Isolated human kinase proteins, nucleic acid molecules encoding human kinase proteins, and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the kinase peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the kinase peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the kinase peptides.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/209,585, filed Jun. 6, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of kinase proteins that are related to the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(MAP/ERK) subfamily, recombinant DNA molecules, and protein production. The present invention specifically provides novel peptides and proteins that effect protein phosphorylation and nucleic acid molecules encoding such peptide and protein molecules, all of which are useful in the development of human therapeutics and diagnostic compositions and methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protein Kinases

Kinases regulate many different cell proliferation, differentiation, and signaling processes by adding phosphate groups to proteins. Uncontrolled signaling has been implicated in a variety of disease conditions including inflammation, cancer, arteriosclerosis, and psoriasis. Reversible protein phosphorylation is the main strategy for controlling activities of eukaryotic cells. It is estimated that more than 1000 of the 10,000 proteins active in a typical mammalian cell are phosphorylated. The high energy phosphate, which drives activation, is generally transferred from adenosine triphosphate molecules (ATP) to a particular protein by protein kinases and removed from that protein by protein phosphatases. Phosphorylation occurs in response to extracellular signals (hormones, neurotransmitters, growth and differentiation factors, etc), cell cycle checkpoints, and environmental or nutritional stresses and is roughly analogous to turning on a molecular switch. When the switch goes on, the appropriate protein kinase activates a metabolic enzyme, regulatory protein, receptor, cytoskeletal protein, ion channel or pump, or transcription factor.

The kinases comprise the largest known protein group, a superfamily of enzymes with widely varied functions and specificities. They are usually named after their substrate, their regulatory molecules, or some aspect of a mutant phenotype. With regard to substrates, the protein kinases may be roughly divided into two groups; those that phosphorylate tyrosine residues (protein tyrosine kinases, PTK) and those that phosphorylate serine or threonine residues (serine/threonine kinases, STK). A few protein kinases have dual specificity and phosphorylate threonine and tyrosine residues. Almost all kinases contain a similar 250-300 amino acid catalytic domain. The N-terminal domain, which contains subdomains I-IV, generally folds into a two-lobed structure, which binds and orients the ATP (or GTP) donor molecule. The larger C terminal lobe, which contains subdomains VI A-XI, binds the protein substrate and carries out the transfer of the gamma phosphate from ATP to the hydroxyl group of a serine, threonine, or tyrosine residue. Subdomain V spans the two lobes.

The kinases may be categorized into families by the different amino acid sequences (generally between 5 and 100 residues) located on either side of, or inserted into loops of, the kinase domain. These added amino acid sequences allow the regulation of each kinase as it recognizes and interacts with its target protein. The primary structure of the kinase domains is conserved and can be further subdivided into 11 subdomains. Each of the 11 subdomains contains specific residues and motifs or patterns of amino acids that are characteristic of that subdomain and are highly conserved (Hardie, G. and Hanks, S. (1995) The Protein Kinase Facts Books, Vol I:7-20 Academic Press, San Diego, Calif.).

The second messenger dependent protein kinases primarily mediate the effects of second messengers such as cyclic AMP (cAMP), cyclic GMP, inositol triphosphate, phosphatidylinositol, 3,4,5-triphosphate, cyclic-ADPribose, arachidonic acid, diacylglycerol and calcium-calmodulin. The cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinases (PKA) are important members of the STK family. Cyclic-AMP is an intracellular mediator of hormone action in all prokaryotic and animal cells that have been studied. Such hormone-induced cellular responses include thyroid hormone secretion, cortisol secretion, progesterone secretion, glycogen breakdown, bone resorption, and regulation of heart rate and force of heart muscle contraction. PKA is found in all animal cells and is thought to account for the effects of cyclic-AMP in most of these cells. Altered PKA expression is implicated in a variety of disorders and diseases including cancer, thyroid disorders, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease (Isselbacher, K. J. et al. (1994) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y., pp. 416-431, 1887).

Calcium-calmodulin (CaM) dependent protein kinases are also members of STK family. Calmodulin is a calcium receptor that mediates many calcium regulated processes by binding to target proteins in response to the binding of calcium. The principle target protein in these processes is CaM dependent protein kinases. CaM-kinases are involved in regulation of smooth muscle contraction (MLC kinase), glycogen breakdown (phosphorylase kinase), and neurotransmission (CaM kinase I and CaM kinase II). CaM kinase I phosphorylates a variety of substrates including the neurotransmitter related proteins synapsin I and II, the gene transcription regulator, CREB, and the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator protein, CFTR (Haribabu, B. et al. (1995) EMBO Journal 14:3679-86). CaM II kinase also phosphorylates synapsin at different sites, and controls the synthesis of catecholamines in the brain through phosphorylation and activation of tyrosine hydroxylase. Many of the CaM kinases are activated by phosphorylation in addition to binding to CaM. The kinase may autophosphorylate itself, or be phosphorylated by another kinase as part of a “kinase cascade”.

Another ligand-activated protein kinase is 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (Gao, G. et al. (1996) J. Biol Chem. 15:8675-81). Mammalian AMPK is a regulator of fatty acid and sterol synthesis through phosphorylation of the enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase and mediates responses of these pathways to cellular stresses such as heat shock and depletion of glucose and ATP. AMPK is a heterotrimeric complex comprised of a catalytic alpha subunit and two non-catalytic beta and gamma subunits that are believed to regulate the activity of the alpha subunit. Subunits of AMPK have a much wider distribution in non-lipogenic tissues such as brain, heart, spleen, and lung than expected. This distribution suggests that its role may extend beyond regulation of lipid metabolism alone.

PRK (proliferation-related kinase) is a serum/cytokine inducible STK that is involved in regulation of the cell cycle and cell proliferation in human megakaroytic cells (Li, B. et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:19402-8). PRK is related to the polo (derived from humans polo gene) family of STKs implicated in cell division. PRK is downregulated in lung tumor tissue and may be a proto-oncogene whose deregulated expression in normal tissue leads to oncogenic transformation. Altered MAP kinase expression is implicated in a variety of disease conditions including cancer, inflammation, immune disorders, and disorders affecting growth and development.

The cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) are another group of STKs that control the progression of cells through the cell cycle. Cyclins are small regulatory proteins that act by binding to and activating CDKs that then trigger various phases of the cell cycle by phosphorylating and activating selected proteins involved in the mitotic process. CDKs are unique in that they require multiple inputs to become activated. In addition to the binding of cyclin, CDK activation requires the phosphorylation of a specific threonine residue and the dephosphorylation of a specific tyrosine residue.

Protein tyrosine kinases, PTKs, specifically phosphorylate tyrosine residues on their target proteins and may be divided into transmembrane, receptor PTKs and nontransmembrane, non-receptor PTKs. Transmembrane protein-tyrosine kinases are receptors for most growth factors. Binding of growth factor to the receptor activates the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to selected tyrosine side chains of the receptor and other specific proteins. Growth factors (GF) associated with receptor PTKs include; epidermal GF, platelet-derived GF, fibroblast GF, hepatocyte GF, insulin and insulin-like GFs, nerve GF, vascular endothelial GF, and macrophage colony stimulating factor.

Non-receptor PTKs lack transmembrane regions and, instead, form complexes with the intracellular regions of cell surface receptors. Such receptors that function through non-receptor PTKs include those for cytokines, hormones (growth hormone and prolactin) and antigen-specific receptors on T and B lymphocytes.

Many of these PTKs were first identified as the products of mutant oncogenes in cancer cells where their activation was no longer subject to normal cellular controls. In fact, about one third of the known oncogenes encode PTKs, and it is well known that cellular transformation (oncogenesis) is often accompanied by increased tyrosine phosphorylation activity (Carbonneau H and Tonks NK (1992) Annu. Rev. Cell. Biol. 8:463-93). Regulation of PTK activity may therefore be an important strategy in controlling some types of cancer.

Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) Kinases/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs)

The novel human protein provided by the present invention is related to the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), which are members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family. ERKs are a group of intracellular enzymes that activate intracellular targets when stimulated by extracellular compounds, usually mitogens. The MAP kinases are members of the STK family. MAP kinases regulate numerous cellular signaling pathways and mediate signal transduction from the cell surface to the nucleus via phosphorylation cascades. MAP kinases also regulate cell growth, differentiation and senescence. Several subgroups have been identified, and each manifests different substrate specificities and responds to distinct extracellular stimuli (Egan, S. E. and Weinberg, R. A. (1993)Nature 365:781-783). MAP kinases and ERKs are activated by G protein coupled receptors. For instance, gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor activates ERK upon binding a hormone molecule. Examples of extracellular stimuli that activate mammalian MAP kinase pathways include epidermal growth factor (EGF), ultraviolet light, hyperosmolar medium, heat shock, endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Altered MAP kinase expression is implicated in a variety of disease conditions including cancer, inflammation, immune disorders, and disorders affecting growth and development.

MAP kinases may be the central integration point for numerous biochemical signals because they are activated by a wide variety of extracellular signals, are highly phosphorylated at threonine and tyrosine residues, and are highly conserved between species (Crews et al., Science 258: 478-480, 1992).

MEK1 and MEK2 are also ERKs/MAP kinases. Constitutive activation of MEK1 causes cellular transformation and therefore MEK1 is an ideal drug target for treating proliferative diseases. Furthermore, inhibition of MEK1 results in up to 80% reduction in colon carcinoma tumor growth, with no toxic side effects (Sebolt-Leopold et al., Nature Med 5: 810-816, 1999). Thus, inhibitors of MEK and other ERKs/MAP kinases are useful as safe, effective treatments for cancers such as colon cancer.

The protein provided by the present invention shows a high degree of similarity to ERK7. ERK7 is constitutively active in serum-starved cells, and this activity is dependent on the presence of a C-terminal tail, which regulates the nuclear localization and growth inhibiting functions of ERK7. ERK7 therefore represents a novel type of MAP kinase characterized by the importance of interactions via its C-terminal tail, rather than extracellular signal-mediated activation cascades, in regulating its activity, localization, and function (Abe et al., Mol Cell Biol 1999 February 19(2):1301-12). ERK7 interacts with Chloride Intracellular Channel 3 (CLIC3) which regulates cell volume, pH, membrane potential, and transepithelial transport. CLIC 3 is a part of the nuclear membrane. The C terminal domain of ERK7, rather than the kinase domain, binds CLIC3 and activates this ion channel. CLIC3 has been isolated by two-hybrid screen using the C-teminal tail of ERK7 as bait. It may be possible to isolate other ion channels by two hybrid screens using parts of ERK kinases as molecular probes. Artificial peptides or other compounds that mimic C-termini of ERKs can be used to stimulate or inhibit intracellular ion channels that regulate cell growth.

Compounds that inhibit MAP and ERK activity and slow cell growth are studied extensively. Some chemicals, like intracellular calcium chelators influence MAP kinases but do not affect ERK. Muramyl tripeptides and Lypopolysaccharides induce ERK1 and 2. Troglitazone (TRO) inhibits mitogenic signaling by insulin in vascular smooth muscle cells by interfering with ERK-dependent phosporylation. Thus, specific drugs can be developed that affect a narrow group of enzymes in the cell. The kinase specific drugs may be useful in a number of ways. For example, such kinase specific drugs enhance the effects of other drugs that affect GPCRs. Additionally, kinase specific drugs may be the only means of blocking the MAPK cascade in tissues in which the GPCR is a broadly expressed type and the ERK is a tissue specific enzyme.

For a further review of ERKs/MAP kinases, see Crews et al., Science 258: 478-480, 1992; Orth et al., Science 285: 1920-1923, 1999; Rampoldi et al., Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 78: 301-303, 1997; Ryan et al., Nature 404: 892-897, 2000; Sebolt-Leopold et al., Nature Med. 5: 810-816, 1999; Seger et al., FASEB J. 9: 726-735, 1995; Seger et al., J. Biol. Chem. 267: 25628-25631, 1992; and Zheng et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 11435-11439, 1993.

Kinase proteins, particularly members of the MAP/ERK subfamily, are a major target for drug action and development. Accordingly, it is valuable to the field of pharmaceutical development to identify and characterize previously unknown members of this subfamily of kinase proteins. The present invention advances the state of the art by providing previously unidentified human kinase proteins that have homology to members of the MAP/ERK subfamily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based in part on the identification of amino acid sequences of human kinase peptides and proteins that are related to the MAP/ERK subfamily, as well as allelic variants and other mammalian orthologs thereof. These unique peptide sequences, and nucleic acid sequences that encode these peptides, can be used as models for the development of human therapeutic targets, aid in the identification of therapeutic proteins, and serve as targets for the development of human therapeutic agents that modulate kinase activity in cells and tissues that express the kinase. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE SHEETS

FIG. 1 provides the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA molecule that encodes the kinase protein of the present invention. (SEQ ID NO:1) In addition, structure and functional information is provided, such as ATG start, stop and tissue distribution, where available, that allows one to readily determine specific uses of inventions based on this molecular sequence. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus.

FIG. 2 provides the predicted amino acid sequence of the kinase of the present invention. (SEQ ID NO:2) In addition structure and functional information such as protein family, function, and modification sites is provided where available, allowing one to readily determine specific uses of inventions based on this molecular sequence.

FIG. 3 provides genomic sequences that span the gene encoding the kinase protein of the present invention. (SEQ ID NO:3) In addition structure and functional information, such as intron/exon structure, promoter location, etc., is provided where available, allowing one to readily determine specific uses of inventions based on this molecular sequence. As illustrated in FIG. 3, SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

General Description

The present invention is based on the sequencing of the human genome. During the sequencing and assembly of the human genome, analysis of the sequence information revealed previously unidentified fragments of the human genome that encode peptides that share structural and/or sequence homology to protein/peptide/domains identified and characterized within the art as being a kinase protein or part of a kinase protein and are related to the MAP/ERK subfamily. Utilizing these sequences, additional genomic sequences were assembled and transcript and/or cDNA sequences were isolated and characterized. Based on this analysis, the present invention provides amino acid sequences of human kinase peptides and proteins that are related to the MAP/ERK subfamily, nucleic acid sequences in the form of transcript sequences, cDNA sequences and/or genomic sequences that encode these kinase peptides and proteins, nucleic acid variation (allelic information), tissue distribution of expression, and information about the closest art known protein/peptide/domain that has structural or sequence homology to the kinase of the present invention.

In addition to being previously unknown, the peptides that are provided in the present invention are selected based on their ability to be used for the development of commercially important products and services. Specifically, the present peptides are selected based on homology and/or structural relatedness to known kinase proteins of the MAP/ERK subfamily and the expression pattern observed. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. The art has clearly established the commercial importance of members of this family of proteins and proteins that have expression patterns similar to that of the present gene. Some of the more specific features of the peptides of the present invention, and the uses thereof, are described herein, particularly in the Background of the Invention and in the annotation provided in the Figures, and/or are known within the art for the known MAP/ERK proteins.

Specific Embodiments

Peptide Molecules

The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences that encode protein molecules that have been identified as being members of the kinase family of proteins and are related to the MAP/ERK subfamily (protein sequences are provided in FIG. 2, transcript/cDNA sequences are provided in FIG. 1 and genomic sequences are provided in FIG. 3). The peptide sequences provided in FIG. 2, as well as the obvious variants described herein, particularly allelic variants as identified herein and using the information in FIG. 3, will be referred herein as the kinase peptides of the present invention, kinase peptides, or peptides/proteins of the present invention.

The present invention provides isolated peptide and protein molecules that consist of, consist essentially of, or comprise the amino acid sequences of the kinase peptides disclosed in the FIG. 2, (encoded by the nucleic acid molecule shown in FIG. 1, transcript/cDNA or FIG. 3, genomic sequence), as well as all obvious variants of these peptides that are within the art to make and use. Some of these variants are described in detail below.

As used herein, a peptide is said to be “isolated” or “purified” when it is substantially free of cellular material or free of chemical precursors or other chemicals. The peptides of the present invention can be purified to homogeneity or other degrees of purity. The level of purification will be based on the intended use. The critical feature is that the preparation allows for the desired function of the peptide, even if in the presence of considerable amounts of other components (the features of an isolated nucleic acid molecule is discussed below).

In some uses, “substantially free of cellular material” includes preparations of the peptide having less than about 30% (by dry weight) other proteins (i.e., contaminating protein), less than about 20% other proteins, less than about 10% other proteins, or less than about 5% other proteins. When the peptide is recombinantly produced, it can also be substantially free of culture medium, i.e., culture medium represents less than about 20% of the volume of the protein preparation.

The language “substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals” includes preparations of the peptide in which it is separated from chemical precursors or other chemicals that are involved in its synthesis. In one embodiment, the language “substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals” includes preparations of the kinase peptide having less than about 30% (by dry weight) chemical precursors or other chemicals, less than about 20% chemical precursors or other chemicals, less than about 10% chemical precursors or other chemicals, or less than about 5% chemical precursors or other chemicals.

The isolated kinase peptide can be purified from cells that naturally express it, purified from cells that have been altered to express it (recombinant), or synthesized using known protein synthesis methods. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. For example, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the kinase peptide is cloned into an expression vector, the expression vector introduced into a host cell and the protein expressed in the host cell. The protein can then be isolated from the cells by an appropriate purification scheme using standard protein purification techniques. Many of these techniques are described in detail below.

Accordingly, the present invention provides proteins that consist of the amino acid sequences provided in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), for example, proteins encoded by the transcript/cDNA nucleic acid sequences shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO:1) and the genomic sequences provided in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3). The amino acid sequence of such a protein is provided in FIG. 2. A protein consists of an amino acid sequence when the amino acid sequence is the final amino acid sequence of the protein.

The present invention further provides proteins that consist essentially of the amino acid sequences provided in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), for example, proteins encoded by the transcript/cDNA nucleic acid sequences shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and the genomic sequences provided in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3). A protein consists essentially of an amino acid sequence when such an amino acid sequence is present with only a few additional amino acid residues, for example from about 1 to about 100 or so additional residues, typically from 1 to about 20 additional residues in the final protein.

The present invention further provides proteins that comprise the amino acid sequences provided in FIG. 2 (SEQ ID NO:2), for example, proteins encoded by the transcript/cDNA nucleic acid sequences shown in FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) and the genomic sequences provided in FIG. 3 (SEQ ID NO:3). A protein comprises an amino acid sequence when the amino acid sequence is at least part of the final amino acid sequence of the protein. In such a fashion, the protein can be only the peptide or have additional amino acid molecules, such as amino acid residues (contiguous encoded sequence) that are naturally associated with it or heterologous amino acid residues/peptide sequences. Such a protein can have a few additional amino acid residues or can comprise several hundred or more additional amino acids. The preferred classes of proteins that are comprised of the kinase peptides of the present invention are the naturally occurring mature proteins. A brief description of how various types of these proteins can be made/isolated is provided below.

The kinase peptides of the present invention can be attached to heterologous sequences to form chimeric or fusion proteins. Such chimeric and fusion proteins comprise a kinase peptide operatively linked to a heterologous protein having an amino acid sequence not substantially homologous to the kinase peptide. “Operatively linked” indicates that the kinase peptide and the heterologous protein are fused in-frame. The heterologous protein can be fused to the N-terminus or C-terminus of the kinase peptide.

In some uses, the fusion protein does not affect the activity of the kinase peptide per se. For example, the fusion protein can include, but is not limited to, enzymatic fusion proteins, for example beta-galactosidase fusions, yeast two-hybrid GAL fusions, poly-His fusions, MYC-tagged, HI-tagged and Ig fusions. Such fusion proteins, particularly poly-His fusions, can facilitate the purification of recombinant kinase peptide. In certain host cells (e.g., mammalian host cells), expression and/or secretion of a protein can be increased by using a heterologous signal sequence.

A chimeric or fusion protein can be produced by standard recombinant DNA techniques. For example, DNA fragments coding for the different protein sequences are ligated together in-frame in accordance with conventional techniques. In another embodiment, the fusion gene can be synthesized by conventional techniques including automated DNA synthesizers. Alternatively, PCR amplification of gene fragments can be carried out using anchor primers which give rise to complementary overhangs between two consecutive gene fragments which can subsequently be annealed and re-amplified to generate a chimeric gene sequence (see Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, 1992). Moreover, many expression vectors are commercially available that already encode a fusion moiety (e.g., a GST protein). A kinase peptide-encoding nucleic acid can be cloned into such an expression vector such that the fusion moiety is linked in-frame to the kinase peptide.

As mentioned above, the present invention also provides and enables obvious variants of the amino acid sequence of the proteins of the present invention, such as naturally occurring mature forms of the peptide, allelic/sequence variants of the peptides, non-naturally occurring recombinantly derived variants of the peptides, and orthologs and paralogs of the peptides. Such variants can readily be generated using art-known techniques in the fields of recombinant nucleic acid technology and protein biochemistry. It is understood, however, that variants exclude any amino acid sequences disclosed prior to the invention.

Such variants can readily be identified/made using molecular techniques and the sequence information disclosed herein. Further, such variants can readily be distinguished from other peptides based on sequence and/or structural homology to the kinase peptides of the present invention. The degree of homology/identity present will be based primarily on whether the peptide is a functional variant or non-functional variant, the amount of divergence present in the paralog family and the evolutionary distance between the orthologs.

To determine the percent identity of two amino acid sequences or two nucleic acid sequences, the sequences are aligned for optimal comparison purposes (e.g., gaps can be introduced in one or both of a first and a second amino acid or nucleic acid sequence for optimal alignment and non-homologous sequences can be disregarded for comparison purposes). In a preferred embodiment, at least 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% or more of the length of a reference sequence is aligned for comparison purposes. The amino acid residues or nucleotides at corresponding amino acid positions or nucleotide positions are then compared. When a position in the first sequence is occupied by the same amino acid residue or nucleotide as the corresponding position in the second sequence, then the molecules are identical at that position (as used herein amino acid or nucleic acid “identity” is equivalent to amino acid or nucleic acid “homology”). The percent identity between the two sequences is a function of the number of identical positions shared by the sequences, taking into account the number of gaps, and the length of each gap, which need to be introduced for optimal alignment of the two sequences.

The comparison of sequences and determination of percent identity and similarity between two sequences can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm. (Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1988; Biocomputing: Informatics and Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York, 1993; Computer Analysis of sequence Data, Part 1, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey, 1994; Sequence Analysis in Molecular Biology, von Heinje, G., Academic Press, 1987; and Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York, 1991). In a preferred embodiment, the percent identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman and Wunsch (J. Mol. Biol. (48):444-453 (1970)) algorithm which has been incorporated into the GAP program in the GCG software package (available at http://www.gcg.com), using either a Blossom 62 matrix or a PAM250 matrix, and a gap weight of 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, or 4 and a length weight of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. In yet another preferred embodiment, the percent identity between two nucleotide sequences is determined using the GAP program in the GCG software package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12(1):387 (1984)) (available at http://www.gcg.com), using a NWSgapdna.CMP matrix and a gap weight of 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 and a length weight of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. In another embodiment, the percent identity between two amino acid or nucleotide sequences is determined using the algorithm of E. Myers and W. Miller (CABIOS, 4:11-17(1989)) which has been incorporated into the ALIGN program (version 2.0), using a PAM120 weight residue table, a gap length penalty of 12 and a gap penalty of 4.

The nucleic acid and protein sequences of the present invention can further be used as a “query sequence” to perform a search against sequence databases to, for example, identify other family members or related sequences. Such searches can be performed using the NBLAST and XBLAST programs (version 2.0) of Altschul, et al. (J Mol. Biol. 215:403-10(1990)). BLAST nucleotide searches can be performed with the NBLAST program, score=100, wordlength=12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to the nucleic acid molecules of the invention. BLAST protein searches can be performed with the XBLAST program, score=50, wordlength=3 to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to the proteins of the invention. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be utilized as described in Altschul et al. (Nucleic Acids Res. 25(17):3389-3402 (1997)). When utilizing BLAST and gapped BLAST programs, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., XBLAST and NBLAST) can be used.

Full-length pre-processed forms, as well as mature processed forms, of proteins that comprise one of the peptides of the present invention can readily be identified as having complete sequence identity to one of the kinase peptides of the present invention as well as being encoded by the same genetic locus as the kinase peptide provided herein. The gene encoding the novel kinase protein of the present invention is located on a genome component that has been mapped to human chromosome 8 (as indicated in FIG. 3), which is supported by multiple lines of evidence, such as STS and BAC map data.

Allelic variants of a kinase peptide can readily be identified as being a human protein having a high degree (significant) of sequence homology/identity to at least a portion of the kinase peptide as well as being encoded by the same genetic locus as the kinase peptide provided herein. Genetic locus can readily be determined based on the genomic information provided in FIG. 3, such as the genomic sequence mapped to the reference human. The gene encoding the novel kinase protein of the present invention is located on a genome component that has been mapped to human chromosome 8 (as indicated in FIG. 3), which is supported by multiple lines of evidence, such as STS and BAC map data. As used herein, two proteins (or a region of the proteins) have significant homology when the amino acid sequences are typically at least about 70-80%, 80-90%, and more typically at least about 90-95% or more homologous. A significantly homologous amino acid sequence, according to the present invention, will be encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that will hybridize to a kinase peptide encoding nucleic acid molecule under stringent conditions as more fully described below.

FIG. 3 provides information on SNPs that have been found in the gene encoding the kinase proteins of the present invention. SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions. SNPs 5′ of the ORF and in introns, particular in the first intron, may affect control/regulatory elements.

Paralogs of a kinase peptide can readily be identified as having some degree of significant sequence homology/identity to at least a portion of the kinase peptide, as being encoded by a gene from humans, and as having similar activity or function. Two proteins will typically be considered paralogs when the amino acid sequences are typically at least about 60% or greater, and more typically at least about 70% or greater homology through a given region or domain. Such paralogs will be encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that will hybridize to a kinase peptide encoding nucleic acid molecule under moderate to stringent conditions as more fully described below.

Orthologs of a kinase peptide can readily be identified as having some degree of significant sequence homology/identity to at least a portion of the kinase peptide as well as being encoded by a gene from another organism. Preferred orthologs will be isolated from mammals, preferably primates, for the development of human therapeutic targets and agents. Such orthologs will be encoded by a nucleic acid sequence that will hybridize to a kinase peptide encoding nucleic acid molecule under moderate to stringent conditions, as more fully described below, depending on the degree of relatedness of the two organisms yielding the proteins.

Non-naturally occurring variants of the kinase peptides of the present invention can readily be generated using recombinant techniques. Such variants include, but are not limited to deletions, additions and substitutions in the amino acid sequence of the kinase peptide. For example, one class of substitutions are conserved amino acid substitution. Such substitutions are those that substitute a given amino acid in a kinase peptide by another amino acid of like characteristics. Typically seen as conservative substitutions are the replacements, one for another, among the aliphatic amino acids Ala, Val, Leu, and Ile; interchange of the hydroxyl residues Ser and Thr; exchange of the acidic residues Asp and Glu; substitution between the amide residues Asn and Gln; exchange of the basic residues Lys and Arg; and replacements among the aromatic residues Phe and Tyr. Guidance concerning which amino acid changes are likely to be phenotypically silent are found in Bowie et al., Science 247:1306-1310 (1990).

Variant kinase peptides can be fully functional or can lack function in one or more activities, e.g. ability to bind substrate, ability to phosphorylate substrate, ability to mediate signaling, etc. Fully functional variants typically contain only conservative variation or variation in non-critical residues or in non-critical regions. FIG. 2 provides the result of protein analysis and can be used to identify critical domains/regions. Functional variants can also contain substitution of similar amino acids that result in no change or an insignificant change in function. Alternatively, such substitutions may positively or negatively affect function to some degree.

Non-functional variants typically contain one or more non-conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions, insertions, inversions, or truncation or a substitution, insertion, inversion, or deletion in a critical residue or critical region.

Amino acids that are essential for function can be identified by methods known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham et al., Science 244:1081-1085 (1989)), particularly using the results provided in FIG. 2. The latter procedure introduces single alanine mutations at every residue in the molecule. The resulting mutant molecules are then tested for biological activity such as kinase activity or in assays such as an in vitro proliferative activity. Sites that are critical for binding partner/substrate binding can also be determined by structural analysis such as crystallization, nuclear magnetic resonance or photoaffmity labeling (Smith et al., J. Mol. Biol. 224:899-904 (1992); de Vos et al. Science 255:306-312 (1992)).

The present invention further provides fragments of the kinase peptides, in addition to proteins and peptides that comprise and consist of such fragments, particularly those comprising the residues identified in FIG. 2. The fragments to which the invention pertains, however, are not to be construed as encompassing fragments that may be disclosed publicly prior to the present invention.

As used herein, a fragment comprises at least 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or more contiguous amino acid residues from a kinase peptide. Such fragments can be chosen based on the ability to retain one or more of the biological activities of the kinase peptide or could be chosen for the ability to perform a function, e.g. bind a substrate or act as an immunogen. Particularly important fragments are biologically active fragments, peptides that are, for example, about 8 or more amino acids in length. Such fragments will typically comprise a domain or motif of the kinase peptide, e.g., active site, a transmembrane domain or a substrate-binding domain. Further, possible fragments include, but are not limited to, domain or motif containing fragments, soluble peptide fragments, and fragments containing immunogenic structures. Predicted domains and functional sites are readily identifiable by computer programs well known and readily available to those of skill in the art (e.g., PROSITE analysis). The results of one such analysis are provided in FIG. 2.

Polypeptides often contain amino acids other than the 20 amino acids commonly referred to as the 20 naturally occurring amino acids. Further, many amino acids, including the terminal amino acids, may be modified by natural processes, such as processing and other post-translational modifications, or by chemical modification techniques well known in the art. Common modifications that occur naturally in kinase peptides are described in basic texts, detailed monographs, and the research literature, and they are well known to those of skill in the art (some of these features are identified in FIG. 2).

Known modifications include, but are not limited to, acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent crosslinks, formation of cystine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination.

Such modifications are well known to those of skill in the art and have been described in great detail in the scientific literature. Several particularly common modifications, glycosylation, lipid attachment, sulfation, gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues, hydroxylation and ADP-ribosylation, for instance, are described in most basic texts, such as Proteins—Structure and Molecular Properties, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993). Many detailed reviews are available on this subject, such as by Wold, F., Posttranslational Covalent Modification of Proteins, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York 1-12 (1983); Seifter et al. (Meth. Enzymol. 182: 626-646 (1990)) and Rattan et al. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 663:48-62 (1992)).

Accordingly, the kinase peptides of the present invention also encompass derivatives or analogs in which a substituted amino acid residue is not one encoded by the genetic code, in which a substituent group is included, in which the mature kinase peptide is fused with another compound, such as a compound to increase the half-life of the kinase peptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or in which the additional amino acids are fused to the mature kinase peptide, such as a leader or secretory sequence or a sequence for purification of the mature kinase peptide or a pro-protein sequence.

Protein/Peptide Uses

The proteins of the present invention can be used in substantial and specific assays related to the functional information provided in the Figures; to raise antibodies or to elicit another immune response; as a reagent (including the labeled reagent) in assays designed to quantitatively determine levels of the protein (or its binding partner or ligand) in biological fluids; and as markers for tissues in which the corresponding protein is preferentially expressed (either constitutively or at a particular stage of tissue differentiation or development or in a disease state). Where the protein binds or potentially binds to another protein or ligand (such as, for example, in a kinase-effector protein interaction or kinase-ligand interaction), the protein can be used to identify the binding partner/ligand so as to develop a system to identify inhibitors of the binding interaction. Any or all of these uses are capable of being developed into reagent grade or kit format for commercialization as commercial products.

Methods for performing the uses listed above are well known to those skilled in the art. References disclosing such methods include “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”, 2d ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Sambrook, J., E. F. Fritsch and T. Maniatis eds., 1989, and “Methods in Enzymology: Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques”, Academic Press, Berger, S. L. and A. R. Kimmel eds., 1987.

The potential uses of the peptides of the present invention are based primarily on the source of the protein as well as the class/action of the protein. For example, kinases isolated from humans and their human/mammalian orthologs serve as targets for identifying agents for use in mammalian therapeutic applications, e.g. a human drug, particularly in modulating a biological or pathological response in a cell or tissue that expresses the kinase. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus. A large percentage of pharmaceutical agents are being developed that modulate the activity of kinase proteins, particularly members of the MAP/ERK subfamily (see Background of the Invention). The structural and functional information provided in the Background and Figures provide specific and substantial uses for the molecules of the present invention, particularly in combination with the expression information provided in FIG. 1. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Such uses can readily be determined using the information provided herein, that which is known in the art, and routine experimentation.

The proteins of the present invention (including variants and fragments that may have been disclosed prior to the present invention) are useful for biological assays related to kinases that are related to members of the MAP/ERK subfamily. Such assays involve any of the known kinase functions or activities or properties useful for diagnosis and treatment of kinase-related conditions that are specific for the subfamily of kinases that the one of the present invention belongs to, particularly in cells and tissues that express the kinase. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus.

The proteins of the present invention are also useful in drug screening assays, in cell-based or cell-free systems. Cell-based systems can be native, i.e., cells that normally express the kinase, as a biopsy or expanded in cell culture. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. In an alternate embodiment, cell-based assays involve recombinant host cells expressing the kinase protein.

The polypeptides can be used to identify compounds that modulate kinase activity of the protein in its natural state or an altered form that causes a specific disease or pathology associated with the kinase. Both the kinases of the present invention and appropriate variants and fragments can be used in high-throughput screens to assay candidate compounds for the ability to bind to the kinase. These compounds can be further screened against a functional kinase to determine the effect of the compound on the kinase activity. Further, these compounds can be tested in animal or invertebrate systems to determine activity/effectiveness. Compounds can be identified that activate (agonist) or inactivate (antagonist) the kinase to a desired degree.

Further, the proteins of the present invention can be used to screen a compound for the ability to stimulate or inhibit interaction between the kinase protein and a molecule that normally interacts with the kinase protein, e.g. a substrate or a component of the signal pathway that the kinase protein normally interacts (for example, another kinase). Such assays typically include the steps of combining the kinase protein with a candidate compound under conditions that allow the kinase protein, or fragment, to interact with the target molecule, and to detect the formation of a complex between the protein and the target or to detect the biochemical consequence of the interaction with the kinase protein and the target, such as any of the associated effects of signal transduction such as protein phosphorylation, cAMP turnover, and adenylate cyclase activation, etc.

Candidate compounds include, for example, 1) peptides such as soluble peptides, including Ig-tailed fusion peptides and members of random peptide libraries (see, e.g., Lam et al., Nature 354:82-84 (1991); Houghten et al., Nature 354:84-86 (1991)) and combinatorial chemistry-derived molecular libraries made of D-and/or L-configuration amino acids; 2) phosphopeptides (e.g., members of random and partially degenerate, directed phosphopeptide libraries, see, e.g., Songyang et al., Cell 72:767-778 (1993)); 3) antibodies (e.g., polyclonal, monoclonal, humanized, anti-idiotypic, chimeric, and single chain antibodies as well as Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fab expression library fragments, and epitope-binding fragments of antibodies); and 4) small organic and inorganic molecules (e.g., molecules obtained from combinatorial and natural product libraries).

One candidate compound is a soluble fragment of the receptor that competes for substrate binding. Other candidate compounds include mutant kinases or appropriate fragments containing mutations that affect kinase function and thus compete for substrate. Accordingly, a fragment that competes for substrate, for example with a higher affinity, or a fragment that binds substrate but does not allow release, is encompassed by the invention.

The invention further includes other end point assays to identify compounds that modulate (stimulate or inhibit) kinase activity. The assays typically involve an assay of events in the signal transduction pathway that indicate kinase activity. Thus, the phosphorylation of a substrate, activation of a protein, a change in the expression of genes that are up- or down-regulated in response to the kinase protein dependent signal cascade can be assayed.

Any of the biological or biochemical functions mediated by the kinase can be used as an endpoint assay. These include all of the biochemical or biochemical/biological events described herein, in the references cited herein, incorporated by reference for these endpoint assay targets, and other functions known to those of ordinary skill in the art or that can be readily identified using the information provided in the Figures, particularly FIG. 2. Specifically, a biological function of a cell or tissues that expresses the kinase can be assayed. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus.

Binding and/or activating compounds can also be screened by using chimeric kinase proteins in which the amino terminal extracellular domain, or parts thereof, the entire transmembrane domain or subregions, such as any of the seven transmembrane segments or any of the intracellular or extracellular loops and the carboxy terminal intracellular domain, or parts thereof, can be replaced by heterologous domains or subregions. For example, a substrate-binding region can be used that interacts with a different substrate then that which is recognized by the native kinase. Accordingly, a different set of signal transduction components is available as an end-point assay for activation. This allows for assays to be performed in other than the specific host cell from which the kinase is derived.

The proteins of the present invention are also useful in competition binding assays in methods designed to discover compounds that interact with the kinase (e.g. binding partners and/or ligands). Thus, a compound is exposed to a kinase polypeptide under conditions that allow the compound to bind or to otherwise interact with the polypeptide. Soluble kinase polypeptide is also added to the mixture. If the test compound interacts with the soluble kinase polypeptide, it decreases the amount of complex formed or activity from the kinase target. This type of assay is particularly useful in cases in which compounds are sought that interact with specific regions of the kinase. Thus, the soluble polypeptide that competes with the target kinase region is designed to contain peptide sequences corresponding to the region of interest.

To perform cell free drug screening assays, it is sometimes desirable to immobilize either the kinase protein, or fragment, or its target molecule to facilitate separation of complexes from uncomplexed forms of one or both of the proteins, as well as to accommodate automation of the assay.

Techniques for immobilizing proteins on matrices can be used in the drug screening assays. In one embodiment, a fusion protein can be provided which adds a domain that allows the protein to be bound to a matrix. For example, glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins can be adsorbed onto glutathione sepharose beads (Sigma Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.) or glutathione derivatized microtitre plates, which are then combined with the cell lysates (e.g., ³⁵S-labeled) and the candidate compound, and the mixture incubated under conditions conducive to complex formation (e.g., at physiological conditions for salt and pH). Following incubation, the beads are washed to remove any unbound label, and the matrix immobilized and radiolabel determined directly, or in the supernatant after the complexes are dissociated. Alternatively, the complexes can be dissociated from the matrix, separated by SDS-PAGE, and the level of kinase-binding protein found in the bead fraction quantitated from the gel using standard electrophoretic techniques. For example, either the polypeptide or its target molecule can be immobilized utilizing conjugation of biotin and streptavidin using techniques well known in the art. Alternatively, antibodies reactive with the protein but which do not interfere with binding of the protein to its target molecule can be derivatized to the wells of the plate, and the protein trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation. Preparations of a kinase-binding protein and a candidate compound are incubated in the kinase protein-presenting wells and the amount of complex trapped in the well can be quantitated. Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described above for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using antibodies reactive with the kinase protein target molecule, or which are reactive with kinase protein and compete with the target molecule, as well as enzyme-linked assays which rely on detecting an enzymatic activity associated with the target molecule.

Agents that modulate one of the kinases of the present invention can be identified using one or more of the above assays, alone or in combination. It is generally preferable to use a cell-based or cell free system first and then confirm activity in an animal or other model system. Such model systems are well known in the art and can readily be employed in this context.

Modulators of kinase protein activity identified according to these drug screening assays can be used to treat a subject with a disorder mediated by the kinase pathway, by treating cells or tissues that express the kinase. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. These methods of treatment include the steps of administering a modulator of kinase activity in a pharmaceutical composition to a subject in need of such treatment, the modulator being identified as described herein.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the kinase proteins can be used as “bait proteins” in a two-hybrid assay or three-hybrid assay (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317; Zervos et al. (1993) Cell 72:223-232; Madura et al. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268:12046-12054; Bartel et al. (1993) Biotechniques 14:920-924; Iwabuchi et al. (1993) Oncogene 8:1693-1696; and Brent WO94/10300), to identify other proteins, which bind to or interact with the kinase and are involved in kinase activity. Such kinase-binding proteins are also likely to be involved in the propagation of signals by the kinase proteins or kinase targets as, for example, downstream elements of a kinase-mediated signaling pathway. Alternatively, such kinase-binding proteins are likely to be kinase inhibitors.

The two-hybrid system is based on the modular nature of most transcription factors, which consist of separable DNA-binding and activation domains. Briefly, the assay utilizes two different DNA constructs. In one construct, the gene that codes for a kinase protein is fused to a gene encoding the DNA binding domain of a known transcription factor (e.g., GAL-4). In the other construct, a DNA sequence, from a library of DNA sequences, that encodes an unidentified protein (“prey” or “sample”) is fused to a gene that codes for the activation domain of the known transcription factor. If the “bait” and the “prey” proteins are able to interact, in vivo, forming a kinase-dependent complex, the DNA-binding and activation domains of the transcription factor are brought into close proximity. This proximity allows transcription of a reporter gene (e.g., LacZ) which is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory site responsive to the transcription factor. Expression of the reporter gene can be detected and cell colonies containing the functional transcription factor can be isolated and used to obtain the cloned gene which encodes the protein which interacts with the kinase protein.

This invention further pertains to novel agents identified by the above-described screening assays. Accordingly, it is within the scope of this invention to further use an agent identified as described herein in an appropriate animal model. For example, an agent identified as described herein (e.g., a kinase-modulating agent, an antisense kinase nucleic acid molecule, a kinase-specific antibody, or a kinase-binding partner) can be used in an animal or other model to determine the efficacy, toxicity, or side effects of treatment with such an agent. Alternatively, an agent identified as described herein can be used in an animal or other model to determine the mechanism of action of such an agent. Furthermore, this invention pertains to uses of novel agents identified by the above-described screening assays for treatments as described herein.

The kinase proteins of the present invention are also useful to provide a target for diagnosing a disease or predisposition to disease mediated by the peptide. Accordingly, the invention provides methods for detecting the presence, or levels of, the protein (or encoding mRNA) in a cell, tissue, or organism. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. The method involves contacting a biological sample with a compound capable of interacting with the kinase protein such that the interaction can be detected. Such an assay can be provided in a single detection format or a multi-detection format such as an antibody chip array.

One agent for detecting a protein in a sample is an antibody capable of selectively binding to protein. A biological sample includes tissues, cells and biological fluids isolated from a subject, as well as tissues, cells and fluids present within a subject.

The peptides of the present invention also provide targets for diagnosing active protein activity, disease, or predisposition to disease, in a patient having a variant peptide, particularly activities and conditions that are known for other members of the family of proteins to which the present one belongs. Thus, the peptide can be isolated from a biological sample and assayed for the presence of a genetic mutation that results in aberrant peptide. This includes amino acid substitution, deletion, insertion, rearrangement, (as the result of aberrant splicing events), and inappropriate post-translational modification. Analytic methods include altered electrophoretic mobility, altered tryptic peptide digest, altered kinase activity in cell-based or cell-free assay, alteration in substrate or antibody-binding pattern, altered isoelectric point, direct amino acid sequencing, and any other of the known assay techniques useful for detecting mutations in a protein. Such an assay can be provided in a single detection format or a multi-detection format such as an antibody chip array.

In vitro techniques for detection of peptide include enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blots, immunoprecipitations and immunofluorescence using a detection reagent, such as an antibody or protein binding agent. Alternatively, the peptide can be detected in vivo in a subject by introducing into the subject a labeled anti-peptide antibody or other types of detection agent. For example, the antibody can be labeled with a radioactive marker whose presence and location in a subject can be detected by standard imaging techniques. Particularly useful are methods that detect the allelic variant of a peptide expressed in a subject and methods which detect fragments of a peptide in a sample.

The peptides are also useful in pharmacogenomic analysis. Pharmacogenomics deal with clinically significant hereditary variations in the response to drugs due to altered drug disposition and abnormal action in affected persons. See, e.g., Eichelbaum, M. (Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol. 23(10-11):983-985 (1996)), and Linder, M. W. (Clin. Chem. 43(2):254-266 (1997)). The clinical outcomes of these variations result in severe toxicity of therapeutic drugs in certain individuals or therapeutic failure of drugs in certain individuals as a result of individual variation in metabolism. Thus, the genotype of the individual can determine the way a therapeutic compound acts on the body or the way the body metabolizes the compound. Further, the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes effects both the intensity and duration of drug action. Thus, the pharmacogenomics of the individual permit the selection of effective compounds and effective dosages of such compounds for prophylactic or therapeutic treatment based on the individual's genotype. The discovery of genetic polymorphisms in some drug metabolizing enzymes has explained why some patients do not obtain the expected drug effects, show an exaggerated drug effect, or experience serious toxicity from standard drug dosages. Polymorphisms can be expressed in the phenotype of the extensive metabolizer and the phenotype of the poor metabolizer. Accordingly, genetic polymorphism may lead to allelic protein variants of the kinase protein in which one or more of the kinase functions in one population is different from those in another population. The peptides thus allow a target to ascertain a genetic predisposition that can affect treatment modality. Thus, in a ligand-based treatment, polymorphism may give rise to amino terminal extracellular domains and/or other substrate-binding regions that are more or less active in substrate binding, and kinase activation. Accordingly, substrate dosage would necessarily be modified to maximize the therapeutic effect within a given population containing a polymorphism. As an alternative to genotyping, specific polymorphic peptides could be identified.

The peptides are also useful for treating a disorder characterized by an absence of, inappropriate, or unwanted expression of the protein. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Accordingly, methods for treatment include the use of the kinase protein or fragments.

Antibodies

The invention also provides antibodies that selectively bind to one of the peptides of the present invention, a protein comprising such a peptide, as well as variants and fragments thereof. As used herein, an antibody selectively binds a target peptide when it binds the target peptide and does not significantly bind to unrelated proteins. An antibody is still considered to selectively bind a peptide even if it also binds to other proteins that are not substantially homologous with the target peptide so long as such proteins share homology with a fragment or domain of the peptide target of the antibody. In this case, it would be understood that antibody binding to the peptide is still selective despite some degree of cross-reactivity.

As used herein, an antibody is defined in terms consistent with that recognized within the art: they are multi-subunit proteins produced by a mammalian organism in response to an antigen challenge. The antibodies of the present invention include polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies, as well as fragments of such antibodies, including, but not limited to, Fab or F(ab′)₂, and Fv fragments.

Many methods are known for generating and/or identifying antibodies to a given target peptide. Several such methods are described by Harlow, Antibodies, Cold Spring Harbor Press, (1989).

In general, to generate antibodies, an isolated peptide is used as an immunogen and is administered to a mammalian organism, such as a rat, rabbit or mouse. The full-length protein, an antigenic peptide fragment or a fusion protein can be used. Particularly important fragments are those covering functional domains, such as the domains identified in FIG. 2, and domain of sequence homology or divergence amongst the family, such as those that can readily be identified using protein alignment methods and as presented in the Figures.

Antibodies are preferably prepared from regions or discrete fragments of the kinase proteins. Antibodies can be prepared from any region of the peptide as described herein. However, preferred regions will include those involved in function/activity and/or kinase/binding partner interaction. FIG. 2 can be used to identify particularly important regions while sequence alignment can be used to identify conserved and unique sequence fragments.

An antigenic fragment will typically comprise at least 8 contiguous amino acid residues. The antigenic peptide can comprise, however, at least 10, 12, 14, 16 or more amino acid residues. Such fragments can be selected on a physical property, such as fragments correspond to regions that are located on the surface of the protein, e.g., hydrophilic regions or can be selected based on sequence uniqueness (see FIG. 2).

Detection on an antibody of the present invention can be facilitated by coupling (i.e., physically linking) the antibody to a detectable substance. Examples of detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, and radioactive materials. Examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, β-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes luminol; examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin, and examples of suitable radioactive material include ¹²⁵I, ¹³¹I, ³⁵S or ³H.

Antibody Uses

The antibodies can be used to isolate one of the proteins of the present invention by standard techniques, such as affinity chromatography or immunoprecipitation. The antibodies can facilitate the purification of the natural protein from cells and recombinantly produced protein expressed in host cells. In addition, such antibodies are useful to detect the presence of one of the proteins of the present invention in cells or tissues to determine the pattern of expression of the protein among various tissues in an organism and over the course of normal development. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus. Further, such antibodies can be used to detect protein in situ, in vitro, or in a cell lysate or supernatant in order to evaluate the abundance and pattern of expression. Also, such antibodies can be used to assess abnormal tissue distribution or abnormal expression during development or progression of a biological condition. Antibody detection of circulating fragments of the full length protein can be used to identify turnover.

Further, the antibodies can be used to assess expression in disease states such as in active stages of the disease or in an individual with a predisposition toward disease related to the protein's function. When a disorder is caused by an inappropriate tissue distribution, developmental expression, level of expression of the protein, or expressed/processed form, the antibody can be prepared against the normal protein. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. If a disorder is characterized by a specific mutation in the protein, antibodies specific for this mutant protein can be used to assay for the presence of the specific mutant protein.

The antibodies can also be used to assess normal and aberrant subcellular localization of cells in the various tissues in an organism. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. The diagnostic uses can be applied, not only in genetic testing, but also in monitoring a treatment modality. Accordingly, where treatment is ultimately aimed at correcting expression level or the presence of aberrant sequence and aberrant tissue distribution or developmental expression, antibodies directed against the protein or relevant fragments can be used to monitor therapeutic efficacy.

Additionally, antibodies are useful in pharmacogenomic analysis. Thus, antibodies prepared against polymorphic proteins can be used to identify individuals that require modified treatment modalities. The antibodies are also useful as diagnostic tools as an immunological marker for aberrant protein analyzed by electrophoretic mobility, isoelectric point, tryptic peptide digest, and other physical assays known to those in the art.

The antibodies are also useful for tissue typing. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Thus, where a specific protein has been correlated with expression in a specific tissue, antibodies that are specific for this protein can be used to identify a tissue type.

The antibodies are also useful for inhibiting protein function, for example, blocking the binding of the kinase peptide to a binding partner such as a substrate. These uses can also be applied in a therapeutic context in which treatment involves inhibiting the protein's function. An antibody can be used, for example, to block binding, thus modulating (agonizing or antagonizing) the peptides activity. Antibodies can be prepared against specific fragments containing sites required for function or against intact protein that is associated with a cell or cell membrane. See FIG. 2 for structural information relating to the proteins of the present invention.

The invention also encompasses kits for using antibodies to detect the presence of a protein in a biological sample. The kit can comprise antibodies such as a labeled or labelable antibody and a compound or agent for detecting protein in a biological sample; means for determining the amount of protein in the sample; means for comparing the amount of protein in the sample with a standard; and instructions for use. Such a kit can be supplied to detect a single protein or epitope or can be configured to detect one of a multitude of epitopes, such as in an antibody detection array. Arrays are described in detail below for nuleic acid arrays and similar methods have been developed for antibody arrays.

Nucleic Acid Molecules

The present invention further provides isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode a kinase peptide or protein of the present invention (cDNA, transcript and genomic sequence). Such nucleic acid molecules will consist of, consist essentially of, or comprise a nucleotide sequence that encodes one of the kinase peptides of the present invention, an allelic variant thereof, or an ortholog or paralog thereof.

As used herein, an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule is one that is separated from other nucleic acid present in the natural source of the nucleic acid. Preferably, an “isolated” nucleic acid is free of sequences which naturally flank the nucleic acid (i.e., sequences located at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the nucleic acid) in the genomic DNA of the organism from which the nucleic acid is derived. However, there can be some flanking nucleotide sequences, for example up to about 5KB, 4KB, 3KB, 2KB, or 1KB or less, particularly contiguous peptide encoding sequences and peptide encoding sequences within the same gene but separated by introns in the genomic sequence. The important point is that the nucleic acid is isolated from remote and unimportant flanking sequences such that it can be subjected to the specific manipulations described herein such as recombinant expression, preparation of probes and primers, and other uses specific to the nucleic acid sequences.

Moreover, an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule, such as a transcript/cDNA molecule, can be substantially free of other cellular material, or culture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. However, the nucleic acid molecule can be fused to other coding or regulatory sequences and still be considered isolated.

For example, recombinant DNA molecules contained in a vector are considered isolated. Further examples of isolated DNA molecules include recombinant DNA molecules maintained in heterologous host cells or purified (partially or substantially) DNA molecules in solution. Isolated RNA molecules include in vivo or in vitro RNA transcripts of the isolated DNA molecules of the present invention. Isolated nucleic acid molecules according to the present invention further include such molecules produced synthetically.

Accordingly, the present invention provides nucleic acid molecules that consist of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 or 3 (SEQ ID NO:1, transcript sequence and SEQ ID NO:3, genomic sequence), or any nucleic acid molecule that encodes the protein provided in FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO:2. A nucleic acid molecule consists of a nucleotide sequence when the nucleotide sequence is the complete nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid molecule.

The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules that consist essentially of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 1 or 3 (SEQ ID NO:1, transcript sequence and SEQ ID NO:3, genomic sequence), or any nucleic acid molecule that encodes the protein provided in FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO:2. A nucleic acid molecule consists essentially of a nucleotide sequence when such a nucleotide sequence is present with only a few additional nucleic acid residues in the final nucleic acid molecule.

The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules that comprise the nucleotide sequences shown in FIG. 1 or 3 (SEQ ID NO: 1, transcript sequence and SEQ ID NO:3, genomic sequence), or any nucleic acid molecule that encodes the protein provided in FIG. 2, SEQ ID NO:2. A nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleotide sequence when the nucleotide sequence is at least part of the final nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid molecule. In such a fashion, the nucleic acid molecule can be only the nucleotide sequence or have additional nucleic acid residues, such as nucleic acid residues that are naturally associated with it or heterologous nucleotide sequences. Such a nucleic acid molecule can have a few additional nucleotides or can comprises several hundred or more additional nucleotides. A brief description of how various types of these nucleic acid molecules can be readily made/isolated is provided below.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, both coding and non-coding sequences are provided. Because of the source of the present invention, humans genomic sequence (FIG. 3) and cDNA/transcript sequences (FIG. 1), the nucleic acid molecules in the Figures will contain genomic intronic sequences, 5′ and 3′ non-coding sequences, gene regulatory regions and non-coding intergenic sequences. In general such sequence features are either noted in FIGS. 1 and 3 or can readily be identified using computational tools known in the art. As discussed below, some of the non-coding regions, particularly gene regulatory elements such as promoters, are useful for a variety of purposes, e.g. control of heterologous gene expression, target for identifying gene activity modulating compounds, and are particularly claimed as fragments of the genomic sequence provided herein.

The isolated nucleic acid molecules can encode the mature protein plus additional amino or carboxyl-terminal amino acids, or amino acids interior to the mature peptide (when the mature form has more than one peptide chain, for instance). Such sequences may play a role in processing of a protein from precursor to a mature form, facilitate protein trafficking, prolong or shorten protein half-life or facilitate manipulation of a protein for assay or production, among other things. As generally is the case in situ, the additional amino acids may be processed away from the mature protein by cellular enzymes.

As mentioned above, the isolated nucleic acid molecules include, but are not limited to, the sequence encoding the kinase peptide alone, the sequence encoding the mature peptide and additional coding sequences, such as a leader or secretory sequence (e.g., a pre-pro or pro-protein sequence), the sequence encoding the mature peptide, with or without the additional coding sequences, plus additional non-coding sequences, for example introns and non-coding 5′ and 3′ sequences such as transcribed but non-translated sequences that play a role in transcription, mRNA processing (including splicing and polyadenylation signals), ribosome binding and stability of mRNA. In addition, the nucleic acid molecule may be fused to a marker sequence encoding, for example, a peptide that facilitates purification.

Isolated nucleic acid molecules can be in the form of RNA, such as mRNA, or in the form DNA, including cDNA and genomic DNA obtained by cloning or produced by chemical synthetic techniques or by a combination thereof. The nucleic acid, especially DNA, can be double-stranded or single-stranded. Single-stranded nucleic acid can be the coding strand (sense strand) or the non-coding strand (anti-sense strand).

The invention further provides nucleic acid molecules that encode fragments of the peptides of the present invention as well as nucleic acid molecules that encode obvious variants of the kinase proteins of the present invention that are described above. Such nucleic acid molecules may be naturally occurring, such as allelic variants (same locus), paralogs (different locus), and orthologs (different organism), or may be constructed by recombinant DNA methods or by chemical synthesis. Such non-naturally occurring variants may be made by mutagenesis techniques, including those applied to nucleic acid molecules, cells, or organisms. Accordingly, as discussed above, the variants can contain nucleotide substitutions, deletions, inversions and insertions. Variation can occur in either or both the coding and non-coding regions. The variations can produce both conservative and non-conservative amino acid substitutions.

The present invention further provides non-coding fragments of the nucleic acid molecules provided in FIGS. 1 and 3. Preferred non-coding fragments include, but are not limited to, promoter sequences, enhancer sequences, gene modulating sequences and gene termination sequences. Such fragments are useful in controlling heterologous gene expression and in developing screens to identify gene-modulating agents. A promoter can readily be identified as being 5′ to the ATG start site in the genomic sequence provided in FIG. 3.

A fragment comprises a contiguous nucleotide sequence greater than 12 or more nucleotides. Further, a fragment could at least 30, 40, 50, 100, 250 or 500 nucleotides in length. The length of the fragment will be based on its intended use. For example, the fragment can encode epitope bearing regions of the peptide, or can be useful as DNA probes and primers. Such fragments can be isolated using the known nucleotide sequence to synthesize an oligonucleotide probe. A labeled probe can then be used to screen a cDNA library, genomic DNA library, or mRNA to isolate nucleic acid corresponding to the coding region. Further, primers can be used in PCR reactions to clone specific regions of gene.

A probe/primer typically comprises substantially a purified oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide pair. The oligonucleotide typically comprises a region of nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions to at least about 12, 20, 25, 40, 50 or more consecutive nucleotides.

Orthologs, homologs, and allelic variants can be identified using methods well known in the art. As described in the Peptide Section, these variants comprise a nucleotide sequence encoding a peptide that is typically 60-70%, 70-80%, 80-90%, and more typically at least about 90-95% or more homologous to the nucleotide sequence shown in the Figure sheets or a fragment of this sequence. Such nucleic acid molecules can readily be identified as being able to hybridize under moderate to stringent conditions, to the nucleotide sequence shown in the Figure sheets or a fragment of the sequence. Allelic variants can readily be determined by genetic locus of the encoding gene. The gene encoding the novel kinase protein of the present invention is located on a genome component that has been mapped to human chromosome 8 (as indicated in FIG. 3), which is supported by multiple lines of evidence, such as STS and BAC map data.

FIG. 3 provides information on SNPs that have been found in the gene encoding the kinase proteins of the present invention. SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions. SNPs 5′ of the ORF and in introns, particular in the first intron, may affect control/regulatory elements.

As used herein, the term “hybridizes under stringent conditions” is intended to describe conditions for hybridization and washing under which nucleotide sequences encoding a peptide at least 60-70% homologous to each other typically remain hybridized to each other. The conditions can be such that sequences at least about 60%, at least about 70%, or at least about 80% or more homologous to each other typically remain hybridized to each other. Such stringent conditions are known to those skilled in the art and can be found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y. (1989), 6.3.1-6.3.6. One example of stringent hybridization conditions are hybridization in 6×sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45C, followed by one or more washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50-65C. Examples of moderate to low stringency hybridization conditions are well known in the art.

Nucleic Acid Molecule Uses

The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are useful for probes, primers, chemical intermediates, and in biological assays. The nucleic acid molecules are useful as a hybridization probe for messenger RNA, transcript/cDNA and genomic DNA to isolate full-length cDNA and genomic clones encoding the peptide described in FIG. 2 and to isolate cDNA and genomic clones that correspond to variants (alleles, orthologs, etc.) producing the same or related peptides shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions.

The probe can correspond to any sequence along the entire length of the nucleic acid molecules provided in the Figures. Accordingly, it could be derived from 5′ noncoding regions, the coding region, and 3′ noncoding regions. However, as discussed, fragments are not to be construed as encompassing fragments disclosed prior to the present invention.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful as primers for PCR to amplify any given region of a nucleic acid molecule and are useful to synthesize antisense molecules of desired length and sequence.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for constructing recombinant vectors. Such vectors include expression vectors that express a portion of, or all of, the peptide sequences. Vectors also include insertion vectors, used to integrate into another nucleic acid molecule sequence, such as into the cellular genome, to alter in situ expression of a gene and/or gene product. For example, an endogenous coding sequence can be replaced via homologous recombination with all or part of the coding region containing one or more specifically introduced mutations.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for expressing antigenic portions of the proteins.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful as probes for determining the chromosomal positions of the nucleic acid molecules by means of in situ hybridization methods. The gene encoding the novel kinase protein of the present invention is located on a genome component that has been mapped to human chromosome 8 (as indicated in FIG. 3), which is supported by multiple lines of evidence, such as STS and BAC map data.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful in making vectors containing the gene regulatory regions of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for designing ribozymes corresponding to all, or a part, of the mRNA produced from the nucleic acid molecules described herein.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for making vectors that express part, or all, of the peptides.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for constructing host cells expressing a part, or all, of the nucleic acid molecules and peptides.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for constructing transgenic animals expressing all, or a part, of the nucleic acid molecules and peptides.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful as hybridization probes for determining the presence, level, form and distribution of nucleic acid expression. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus. Accordingly, the probes can be used to detect the presence of, or to determine levels of, a specific nucleic acid molecule in cells, tissues, and in organisms. The nucleic acid whose level is determined can be DNA or RNA. Accordingly, probes corresponding to the peptides described herein can be used to assess expression and/or gene copy number in a given cell, tissue, or organism. These uses are relevant for diagnosis of disorders involving an increase or decrease in kinase protein expression relative to normal results.

In vitro techniques for detection of mRNA include Northern hybridizations and in situ hybridizations. In vitro techniques for detecting DNA includes Southern hybridizations and in situ hybridization.

Probes can be used as a part of a diagnostic test kit for identifying cells or tissues that express a kinase protein, such as by measuring a level of a kinase-encoding nucleic acid in a sample of cells from a subject e.g., mRNA or genomic DNA, or determining if a kinase gene has been mutated. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus.

Nucleic acid expression assays are useful for drug screening to identify compounds that modulate kinase nucleic acid expression.

The invention thus provides a method for identifying a compound that can be used to treat a disorder associated with nucleic acid expression of the kinase gene, particularly biological and pathological processes that are mediated by the kinase in cells and tissues that express it. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. The method typically includes assaying the ability of the compound to modulate the expression of the kinase nucleic acid and thus identifying a compound that can be used to treat a disorder characterized by undesired kinase nucleic acid expression. The assays can be performed in cell-based and cell-free systems. Cell-based assays include cells naturally expressing the kinase nucleic acid or recombinant cells genetically engineered to express specific nucleic acid sequences.

The assay for kinase nucleic acid expression can involve direct assay of nucleic acid levels, such as mRNA levels, or on collateral compounds involved in the signal pathway. Further, the expression of genes that are up- or down-regulated in response to the kinase protein signal pathway can also be assayed. In this embodiment the regulatory regions of these genes can be operably linked to a reporter gene such as luciferase.

Thus, modulators of kinase gene expression can be identified in a method wherein a cell is contacted with a candidate compound and the expression of mRNA determined. The level of expression of kinase mRNA in the presence of the candidate compound is compared to the level of expression of kinase mRNA in the absence of the candidate compound. The candidate compound can then be identified as a modulator of nucleic acid expression based on this comparison and be used, for example to treat a disorder characterized by aberrant nucleic acid expression. When expression of mRNA is statistically significantly greater in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as a stimulator of nucleic acid expression. When nucleic acid expression is statistically significantly less in the presence of the candidate compound than in its absence, the candidate compound is identified as an inhibitor of nucleic acid expression.

The invention further provides methods of treatment, with the nucleic acid as a target, using a compound identified through drug screening as a gene modulator to modulate kinase nucleic acid expression in cells and tissues that express the kinase. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus. Modulation includes both up-regulation (i.e. activation or agonization) or down-regulation (suppression or antagonization) or nucleic acid expression.

Alternatively, a modulator for kinase nucleic acid expression can be a small molecule or drug identified using the screening assays described herein as long as the drug or small molecule inhibits the kinase nucleic acid expression in the cells and tissues that express the protein. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates expression in the larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for monitoring the effectiveness of modulating compounds on the expression or activity of the kinase gene in clinical trials or in a treatment regimen. Thus, the gene expression pattern can serve as a barometer for the continuing effectiveness of treatment with the compound, particularly with compounds to which a patient can develop resistance. The gene expression pattern can also serve as a marker indicative of a physiological response of the affected cells to the compound. Accordingly, such monitoring would allow either increased administration of the compound or the administration of alternative compounds to which the patient has not become resistant. Similarly, if the level of nucleic acid expression falls below a desirable level, administration of the compound could be commensurately decreased.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful in diagnostic assays for qualitative changes in kinase nucleic acid expression, and particularly in qualitative changes that lead to pathology. The nucleic acid molecules can be used to detect mutations in kinase genes and gene expression products such as mRNA. The nucleic acid molecules can be used as hybridization probes to detect naturally occurring genetic mutations in the kinase gene and thereby to determine whether a subject with the mutation is at risk for a disorder caused by the mutation. Mutations include deletion, addition, or substitution of one or more nucleotides in the gene, chromosomal rearrangement, such as inversion or transposition, modification of genomic DNA, such as aberrant methylation patterns or changes in gene copy number, such as amplification. Detection of a mutated form of the kinase gene associated with a dysfunction provides a diagnostic tool for an active disease or susceptibility to disease when the disease results from overexpression, underexpression, or altered expression of a kinase protein.

Individuals carrying mutations in the kinase gene can be detected at the nucleic acid level by a variety of techniques. FIG. 3 provides information on SNPs that have been found in the gene encoding the kinase proteins of the present invention. SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions. SNPs 5′ of the ORF and in introns, particular in the first intron, may affect control/regulatory elements. The gene encoding the novel kinase protein of the present invention is located on a genome component that has been mapped to human chromosome 8 (as indicated in FIG. 3), which is supported by multiple lines of evidence, such as STS and BAC map data. Genomic DNA can be analyzed directly or can be amplified by using PCR prior to analysis. RNA or cDNA can be used in the same way. In some uses, detection of the mutation involves the use of a probe/primer in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (see, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195 and 4,683,202), such as anchor PCR or RACE PCR, or, alternatively, in a ligation chain reaction (LCR) (see, e.g., Landegran et al., Science 241:1077-1080 (1988); and Nakazawa et al., PNAS 91:360-364 (1994)), the latter of which can be particularly useful for detecting point mutations in the gene (see Abravaya et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 23:675-682 (1995)). This method can include the steps of collecting a sample of cells from a patient, isolating nucleic acid (e.g., genomic, mRNA or both) from the cells of the sample, contacting the nucleic acid sample with one or more primers which specifically hybridize to a gene under conditions such that hybridization and amplification of the gene (if present) occurs, and detecting the presence or absence of an amplification product, or detecting the size of the amplification product and comparing the length to a control sample. Deletions and insertions can be detected by a change in size of the amplified product compared to the normal genotype. Point mutations can be identified by hybridizing amplified DNA to normal RNA or antisense DNA sequences.

Alternatively, mutations in a kinase gene can be directly identified, for example, by alterations in restriction enzyme digestion patterns determined by gel electrophoresis.

Further, sequence-specific ribozymes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,531) can be used to score for the presence of specific mutations by development or loss of a ribozyme cleavage site. Perfectly matched sequences can be distinguished from mismatched sequences by nuclease cleavage digestion assays or by differences in melting temperature.

Sequence changes at specific locations can also be assessed by nuclease protection assays such as RNase and S1 protection or the chemical cleavage method. Furthermore, sequence differences between a mutant kinase gene and a wild-type gene can be determined by direct DNA sequencing. A variety of automated sequencing procedures can be utilized when performing the diagnostic assays (Naeve, C. W., (1995) Biotechniques 19:448), including sequencing by mass spectrometry (see, e.g., PCT International Publication No. WO 94/16101; Cohen et al., Adv. Chromatogr. 36:127-162 (1996); and Griffin et al., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 38:147-159 (1993)).

Other methods for detecting mutations in the gene include methods in which protection from cleavage agents is used to detect mismatched bases in RNA/RNA or RNA/DNA duplexes (Myers et al., Science 230:1242 (1985)); Cotton et al., PNAS 85:4397 (1988); Saleeba et al., Meth. Enzymol. 217:286-295 (1992)), electrophoretic mobility of mutant and wild type nucleic acid is compared (Orita et al., PNAS 86:2766 (1989); Cotton et al., Mutat. Res. 285:125-144 (1993); and Hayashi et al., Genet. Anal. Tech. Appl. 9:73-79 (1992)), and movement of mutant or wild-type fragments in polyacrylamide gels containing a gradient of denaturant is assayed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (Myers et al, Nature 313:495 (1985)). Examples of other techniques for detecting point mutations include selective oligonucleotide hybridization, selective amplification, and selective primer extension.

The nucleic acid molecules are also useful for testing an individual for a genotype that while not necessarily causing the disease, nevertheless affects the treatment modality. Thus, the nucleic acid molecules can be used to study the relationship between an individual's genotype and the individual's response to a compound used for treatment pharmacogenomic relationship). Accordingly, the nucleic acid molecules described herein can be used to assess the mutation content of the kinase gene in an individual in order to select an appropriate compound or dosage regimen for treatment. FIG. 3 provides information on SNPs that have been found in the gene encoding the kinase proteins of the present invention. SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions. SNPs 5′ of the ORF and in introns, particular in the first intron, may affect control/regulatory elements.

Thus nucleic acid molecules displaying genetic variations that affect treatment provide a diagnostic target that can be used to tailor treatment in an individual. Accordingly, the production of recombinant cells and animals containing these polymorphisms allow effective clinical design of treatment compounds and dosage regimens.

The nucleic acid molecules are thus useful as antisense constructs to control kinase gene expression in cells, tissues, and organisms. A DNA antisense nucleic acid molecule is designed to be complementary to a region of the gene involved in transcription, preventing transcription and hence production of kinase protein. An antisense RNA or DNA nucleic acid molecule would hybridize to the mRNA and thus block translation of mRNA into kinase protein.

Alternatively, a class of antisense molecules can be used to inactivate mRNA in order to decrease expression of kinase nucleic acid. Accordingly, these molecules can treat a disorder characterized by abnormal or undesired kinase nucleic acid expression. This technique involves cleavage by means of ribozymes containing nucleotide sequences complementary to one or more regions in the mRNA that attenuate the ability of the mRNA to be translated. Possible regions include coding regions and particularly coding regions corresponding to the catalytic and other functional activities of the kinase protein, such as substrate binding.

The nucleic acid molecules also provide vectors for gene therapy in patients containing cells that are aberrant in kinase gene expression. Thus, recombinant cells, which include the patient's cells that have been engineered ex vivo and returned to the patient, are introduced into an individual where the cells produce the desired kinase protein to treat the individual.

The invention also encompasses kits for detecting the presence of a kinase nucleic acid in a biological sample. Experimental data as provided in FIG. 1 indicates that kinase proteins of the present invention are expressed in humans in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, pancreas adenocarcinomas, fetal brain, and hippocampus. Specifically, a virtual northern blot shows expression in larynx epithelium, Wilms' tumors of the kidney, and pancreas adenocarcinomas. In addition, PCR-based tissue screening panels indicate expression in fetal brain and hippocampus. For example, the kit can comprise reagents such as a labeled or labelable nucleic acid or agent capable of detecting kinase nucleic acid in a biological sample; means for determining the amount of kinase nucleic acid in the sample; and means for comparing the amount of kinase nucleic acid in the sample with a standard. The compound or agent can be packaged in a suitable container. The kit can further comprise instructions for using the kit to detect kinase protein mRNA or DNA.

Nucleic Acid Arrays

The present invention further provides nucleic acid detection kits, such as arrays or microarrays of nucleic acid molecules that are based on the sequence information provided in FIGS. 1 and 3 (SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 3).

As used herein “Arrays” or “Microarrays” refers to an array of distinct polynucleotides or oligonucleotides synthesized on a substrate, such as paper, nylon or other type of membrane, filter, chip, glass slide, or any other suitable solid support. In one embodiment, the microarray is prepared and used according to the methods described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,832, Chee et al., PCT application W095/11995 (Chee et al.), Lockhart, D. J. et al. (1996; Nat. Biotech. 14: 1675-1680) and Schena, M. et al (1996; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93: 10614-10619), all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. In other embodiments, such arrays are produced by the methods described by Brown et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522.

The microarray or detection kit is preferably composed of a large number of unique, single-stranded nucleic acid sequences, usually either synthetic antisense oligonucleotides or fragments of cDNAs, fixed to a solid support. The oligonucleotides are preferably about 6-60 nucleotides in length, more preferably 15-30 nucleotides in length, and most preferably about 20-25 nucleotides in length. For a certain type of microarray or detection kit, it may be preferable to use oligonucleotides that are only 720 nucleotides in length. The microarray or detection kit may contain oligonucleotides that cover the known 5′, or 3′, sequence, sequential oligonucleotides which cover the full length sequence; or unique oligonucleotides selected from particular areas along the length of the sequence. Polynucleotides used in the microarray or detection kit may be oligonucleotides that are specific to a gene or genes of interest.

In order to produce oligonucleotides to a known sequence for a microarray or detection kit, the gene(s) of interest (or an ORF identified from the contigs of the present invention) is typically examined using a computer algorithm which starts at the 5′ or at the 3′ end of the nucleotide sequence. Typical algorithms will then identify oligomers of defined length that are unique to the gene, have a GC content within a range suitable for hybridization, and lack predicted secondary structure that may interfere with hybridization. In certain situations it may be appropriate to use pairs of oligonucleotides on a microarray or detection kit. The “pairs” will be identical, except for one nucleotide that preferably is located in the center of the sequence. The second oligonucleotide in the pair (mismatched by one) serves as a control. The number of oligonucleotide pairs may range from two to one million. The oligomers are synthesized at designated areas on a substrate using a light-directed chemical process. The substrate may be paper, nylon or other type of membrane, filter, chip, glass slide or any other suitable solid support.

In another aspect, an oligonucleotide may be synthesized on the surface of the substrate by using a chemical coupling procedure and an ink jet application apparatus, as described in PCT application W095/251116 (Baldeschweiler et al.) which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. In another aspect, a “gridded” array analogous to a dot (or slot) blot may be used to arrange and link cDNA fragments or oligonucleotides to the surface of a substrate using a vacuum system, thermal, UV, mechanical or chemical bonding procedures. An array, such as those described above, may be produced by hand or by using available devices (slot blot or dot blot apparatus), materials (any suitable solid support), and machines (including robotic instruments), and may contain 8, 24, 96, 384, 1536, 6144 or more oligonucleotides, or any other number between two and one million which lends itself to the efficient use of commercially available instrumentation.

In order to conduct sample analysis using a microarray or detection kit, the RNA or DNA from a biological sample is made into hybridization probes. The mRNA is isolated, and cDNA is produced and used as a template to make antisense RNA (aRNA). The aRNA is amplified in the presence of fluorescent nucleotides, and labeled probes are incubated with the microarray or detection kit so that the probe sequences hybridize to complementary oligonucleotides of the microarray or detection kit. Incubation conditions are adjusted so that hybridization occurs with precise complementary matches or with various degrees of less complementarity. After removal of nonhybridized probes, a scanner is used to determine the levels and patterns of fluorescence. The scanned images are examined to determine degree of complementarity and the relative abundance of each oligonucleotide sequence on the microarray or detection kit. The biological samples may be obtained from any bodily fluids (such as blood, urine, saliva, phlegm, gastric juices, etc.), cultured cells, biopsies, or other tissue preparations. A detection system may be used to measure the absence, presence, and amount of hybridization for all of the distinct sequences simultaneously. This data may be used for large-scale correlation studies on the sequences, expression patterns, mutations, variants, or polymorphisms among samples.

Using such arrays, the present invention provides methods to identify the expression of the kinase proteins/peptides of the present invention. In detail, such methods comprise incubating a test sample with one or more nucleic acid molecules and assaying for binding of the nucleic acid molecule with components within the test sample. Such assays will typically involve arrays comprising many genes, at least one of which is a gene of the present invention and or alleles of the kinase gene of the present invention. FIG. 3 provides information on SNPs that have been found in the gene encoding the kinase proteins of the present invention. SNPs were identified at five different nucleotide positions. SNPs 5′ of the ORF and in introns, particular in the first intron, may affect control/regulatory elements.

Conditions for incubating a nucleic acid molecule with a test sample vary. Incubation conditions depend on the format employed in the assay, the detection methods employed, and the type and nature of the nucleic acid molecule used in the assay. One skilled in the art will recognize that any one of the commonly available hybridization, amplification or array assay formats can readily be adapted to employ the novel fragments of the Human genome disclosed herein. Examples of such assays can be found in Chard, T, An Introduction to Radioimmunoassay and Related Techniques, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1986); Bullock, G. R. et al., Techniques in Immunocytochemistry, Academic Press, Orlando, FL Vol. 1 (1982), Vol. 2 (1983), Vol. 3 (1985); Tijssen, P., Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoassays: Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1985).

The test samples of the present invention include cells, protein or membrane extracts of cells. The test sample used in the above-described method will vary based on the assay format, nature of the detection method and the tissues, cells or extracts used as the sample to be assayed. Methods for preparing nucleic acid extracts or of cells are well known in the art and can be readily be adapted in order to obtain a sample that is compatible with the system utilized.

In another embodiment of the present invention, kits are provided which contain the necessary reagents to carry out the assays of the present invention.

Specifically, the invention provides a compartmentalized kit to receive, in close confinement, one or more containers which comprises: (a) a first container comprising one of the nucleic acid molecules that can bind to a fragment of the Human genome disclosed herein; and (b) one or more other containers comprising one or more of the following: wash reagents, reagents capable of detecting presence of a bound nucleic acid.

In detail, a compartmentalized kit includes any kit in which reagents are contained in separate containers. Such containers include small glass containers, plastic containers, strips of plastic, glass or paper, or arraying material such as silica. Such containers allows one to efficiently transfer reagents from one compartment to another compartment such that the samples and reagents are not cross-contaminated, and the agents or solutions of each container can be added in a quantitative fashion from one compartment to another. Such containers will include a container which will accept the test sample, a container which contains the nucleic acid probe, containers which contain wash reagents (such as phosphate buffered saline, Tris-buffers, etc.), and containers which contain the reagents used to detect the bound probe. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the previously unidentified kinase gene of the present invention can be routinely identified using the sequence information disclosed herein can be readily incorporated into one of the established kit formats which are well known in the art, particularly expression arrays.

Vectors/host cells

The invention also provides vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules described herein. The term “vector” refers to a vehicle, preferably a nucleic acid molecule, which can transport the nucleic acid molecules. When the vector is a nucleic acid molecule, the nucleic acid molecules are covalently linked to the vector nucleic acid. With this aspect of the invention, the vector includes a plasmid, single or double stranded phage, a single or double stranded RNA or DNA viral vector, or artificial chromosome, such as a BAC, PAC, YAC, OR MAC.

A vector can be maintained in the host cell as an extrachromosomal element where it replicates and produces additional copies of the nucleic acid molecules. Alternatively, the vector may integrate into the host cell genome and produce additional copies of the nucleic acid molecules when the host cell replicates.

The invention provides vectors for the maintenance (cloning vectors) or vectors for expression (expression vectors) of the nucleic acid molecules. The vectors can function in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells or in both (shuttle vectors).

Expression vectors contain cis-acting regulatory regions that are operably linked in the vector to the nucleic acid molecules such that transcription of the nucleic acid molecules is allowed in a host cell. The nucleic acid molecules can be introduced into the host cell with a separate nucleic acid molecule capable of affecting transcription. Thus, the second nucleic acid molecule may provide a trans-acting factor interacting with the cis-regulatory control region to allow transcription of the nucleic acid molecules from the vector. Alternatively, a trans-acting factor may be supplied by the host cell. Finally, a trans-acting factor can be produced from the vector itself. It is understood, however, that in some embodiments, transcription and/or translation of the nucleic acid molecules can occur in a cell-free system.

The regulatory sequence to which the nucleic acid molecules described herein can be operably linked include promoters for directing mRNA transcription. These include, but are not limited to, the left promoter from bacteriophage λ, the lac, TRP, and TAC promoters from E. coli, the early and late promoters from SV40, the CMV immediate early promoter, the adenovirus early and late promoters, and retrovirus long-terminal repeats.

In addition to control regions that promote transcription, expression vectors may also include regions that modulate transcription, such as repressor binding sites and enhancers. Examples include the SV40 enhancer, the cytomegalovirus immediate early enhancer, polyoma enhancer, adenovirus enhancers, and retrovirus LTR enhancers.

In addition to containing sites for transcription initiation and control, expression vectors can also contain sequences necessary for transcription termination and, in the transcribed region a ribosome binding site for translation. Other regulatory control elements for expression include initiation and termination codons as well as polyadenylation signals. The person of ordinary skill in the art would be aware of the numerous regulatory sequences that are useful in expression vectors. Such regulatory sequences are described, for example, in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 2nd. ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., (1989).

A variety of expression vectors can be used to express a nucleic acid molecule. Such vectors include chromosomal, episomal, and virus-derived vectors, for example vectors derived from bacterial plasmids, from bacteriophage, from yeast episomes, from yeast chromosomal elements, including yeast artificial chromosomes, from viruses such as baculoviruses, papovaviruses such as SV40, Vaccinia viruses, adenoviruses, poxviruses, pseudorabies viruses, and retroviruses. Vectors may also be derived from combinations of these sources such as those derived from plasmid and bacteriophage genetic elements, e.g. cosmids and phagemids. Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 2nd. ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., (1989).

The regulatory sequence may provide constitutive expression in one or more host cells (i.e. tissue specific) or may provide for inducible expression in one or more cell types such as by temperature, nutrient additive, or exogenous factor such as a hormone or other ligand. A variety of vectors providing for constitutive and inducible expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The nucleic acid molecules can be inserted into the vector nucleic acid by well-known methodology. Generally, the DNA sequence that will ultimately be expressed is joined to an expression vector by cleaving the DNA sequence and the expression vector with one or more restriction enzymes and then ligating the fragments together. Procedures for restriction enzyme digestion and ligation are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The vector containing the appropriate nucleic acid molecule can be introduced into an appropriate host cell for propagation or expression using well-known techniques. Bacterial cells include, but are not limited to, E. coli, Streptomyces, and Salmonella typhimurium. Eukaryotic cells include, but are not limited to, yeast, insect cells such as Drosophila, animal cells such as COS and CHO cells, and plant cells.

As described herein, it may be desirable to express the peptide as a fusion protein. Accordingly, the invention provides fusion vectors that allow for the production of the peptides. Fusion vectors can increase the expression of a recombinant protein, increase the solubility of the recombinant protein, and aid in the purification of the protein by acting for example as a ligand for affinity purification. A proteolytic cleavage site may be introduced at the junction of the fusion moiety so that the desired peptide can ultimately be separated from the fusion moiety. Proteolytic enzymes include, but are not limited to, factor Xa, thrombin, and enterokinase. Typical fusion expression vectors include pGEX (Smith et al., Gene 67:31-40 (1988)), pMAL (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Md.) and pRIT5 (Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.) which fuse glutathione S-transferase (GST), maltose E binding protein, or protein A, respectively, to the target recombinant protein. Examples of suitable inducible non-fusion E. coli expression vectors include pTrc (Amann et al., Gene 69:301-315 (1988)) and pET 11d (Studier et al., Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology 185:60-89 (1990)).

Recombinant protein expression can be maximized in host bacteria by providing a genetic background wherein the host cell has an impaired capacity to proteolytically cleave the recombinant protein. (Gottesman, S., Gene Expression Technology: Methods in Enzymology 185, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990)119-128). Alternatively, the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule of interest can be altered to provide preferential codon usage for a specific host cell, for example E. coli. (Wada et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 20:2111-2118 (1992)).

The nucleic acid molecules can also be expressed by expression vectors that are operative in yeast. Examples of vectors for expression in yeast e.g., S. cerevisiae include pYepSecl (Baldari, et al., EMBO J. 6:229-234 (1987)), pMFa (Kurjan et al., Cell 30:933-943(1982)), pJRY88 (Schultz et al., Gene 54:113-123 (1987)), and pYES2 Invitrogen Corporation, San Diego, Calif.)

The nucleic acid molecules can also be expressed in insect cells using, for example, baculovirus expression vectors. Baculovirus vectors available for expression of proteins in cultured insect cells (e.g., Sf 9 cells) include the pAc series (Smith et al., Mol Cell Biol. 3:2156-2165 (1983)) and the pVL series (Lucklow et al., Virology 170:31-39 (1989)).

In certain embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid molecules described herein are expressed in mammalian cells using mammalian expression vectors. Examples of mammalian expression vectors include pCDM8 (Seed, B. Nature 329:840(1987)) and pMT2PC (Kaufman et al., EMBO J 6:187-195 (1987)).

The expression vectors listed herein are provided by way of example only of the well-known vectors available to those of ordinary skill in the art that would be useful to express the nucleic acid molecules. The person of ordinary skill in the art would be aware of other vectors suitable for maintenance propagation or expression of the nucleic acid molecules described herein. These are found for example in Sambrook, J., Fritsh, E. F., and Maniatis, T. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. 2nd, ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989.

The invention also encompasses vectors in which the nucleic acid sequences described herein are cloned into the vector in reverse orientation, but operably linked to a regulatory sequence that permits transcription of antisense RNA. Thus, an antisense transcript can be produced to all, or to a portion, of the nucleic acid molecule sequences described herein, including both coding and non-coding regions. Expression of this antisense RNA is subject to each of the parameters described above in relation to expression of the sense RNA (regulatory sequences, constitutive or inducible expression, tissue-specific expression).

The invention also relates to recombinant host cells containing the vectors described herein. Host cells therefore include prokaryotic cells, lower eukaryotic cells such as yeast, other eukaryotic cells such as insect cells, and higher eukaryotic cells such as mammalian cells.

The recombinant host cells are prepared by introducing the vector constructs described herein into the cells by techniques readily available to the person of ordinary skill in the art. These include, but are not limited to, calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, infection, lipofection, and other techniques such as those found in Sambrook, et al. (Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual. 2nd, ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989).

Host cells can contain more than one vector. Thus, different nucleotide sequences can be introduced on different vectors of the same cell. Similarly, the nucleic acid molecules can be introduced either alone or with other nucleic acid molecules that are not related to the nucleic acid molecules such as those providing trans-acting factors for expression vectors. When more than one vector is introduced into a cell, the vectors can be introduced independently, co-introduced or joined to the nucleic acid molecule vector.

In the case of bacteriophage and viral vectors, these can be introduced into cells as packaged or encapsulated virus by standard procedures for infection and transduction. Viral vectors can be replication-competent or replication-defective. In the case in which viral replication is defective, replication will occur in host cells providing functions that complement the defects.

Vectors generally include selectable markers that enable the selection of the subpopulation of cells that contain the recombinant vector constructs. The marker can be contained in the same vector that contains the nucleic acid molecules described herein or may be on a separate vector. Markers include tetracycline or ampicillin-resistance genes for prokaryotic host cells and dihydrofolate reductase or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic host cells. However, any marker that provides selection for a phenotypic trait will be effective.

While the mature proteins can be produced in bacteria, yeast, mammalian cells, and other cells under the control of the appropriate regulatory sequences, cell- free transcription and translation systems can also be used to produce these proteins using RNA derived from the DNA constructs described herein.

Where secretion of the peptide is desired, which is difficult to achieve with multi-transmembrane domain containing proteins such as kinases, appropriate secretion signals are incorporated into the vector. The signal sequence can be endogenous to the peptides or heterologous to these peptides.

Where the peptide is not secreted into the medium, which is typically the case with kinases, the protein can be isolated from the host cell by standard disruption procedures, including freeze thaw, sonication, mechanical disruption, use of lysing agents and the like. The peptide can then be recovered and purified by well-known purification methods including ammonium sulfate precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cationic exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic-interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, lectin chromatography, or high performance liquid chromatography.

It is also understood that depending upon the host cell in recombinant production of the peptides described herein, the peptides can have various glycosylation patterns, depending upon the cell, or maybe non-glycosylated as when produced in bacteria. In addition, the peptides may include an initial modified methionine in some cases as a result of a host-mediated process.

Uses of vectors and host cells

The recombinant host cells expressing the peptides described herein have a variety of uses. First, the cells are useful for producing a kinase protein or peptide that can be further purified to produce desired amounts of kinase protein or fragments. Thus, host cells containing expression vectors are useful for peptide production.

Host cells are also useful for conducting cell-based assays involving the kinase protein or kinase protein fragments, such as those described above as well as other formats known in the art. Thus, a recombinant host cell expressing a native kinase protein is useful for assaying compounds that stimulate or inhibit kinase protein function.

Host cells are also useful for identifying kinase protein mutants in which these functions are affected. If the mutants naturally occur and give rise to a pathology, host cells containing the mutations are useful to assay compounds that have a desired effect on the mutant kinase protein (for example, stimulating or inhibiting function) which may not be indicated by their effect on the native kinase protein.

Genetically engineered host cells can be further used to produce non-human transgenic animals. A transgenic animal is preferably a mammal, for example a rodent, such as a rat or mouse, in which one or more of the cells of the animal include a transgene. A transgene is exogenous DNA which is integrated into the genome of a cell from which a transgenic animal develops and which remains in the genome of the mature animal in one or more cell types or tissues of the transgenic animal. These animals are useful for studying the function of a kinase protein and identifying and evaluating modulators of kinase protein activity. Other examples of transgenic animals include non-human primates, sheep, dogs, cows, goats, chickens, and amphibians.

A transgenic animal can be produced by introducing nucleic acid into the male pronuclei of a fertilized oocyte, e.g., by microinjection, retroviral infection, and allowing the oocyte to develop in a pseudopregnant female foster animal. Any of the kinase protein nucleotide sequences can be introduced as a transgene into the genome of a non-human animal, such as a mouse.

Any of the regulatory or other sequences useful in expression vectors can form part of the transgenic sequence. This includes intronic sequences and polyadenylation signals, if not already included. A tissue-specific regulatory sequence(s) can be operably linked to the transgene to direct expression of the kinase protein to particular cells.

Methods for generating transgenic animals via embryo manipulation and microinjection, particularly animals such as mice, have become conventional in the art and are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,736,866 and 4,870,009, both by Leder et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191 by Wagner et al. and in Hogan, B., Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1986). Similar methods are used for production of other transgenic animals. A transgenic founder animal can be identified based upon the presence of the transgene in its genome and/or expression of transgenic mRNA in tissues or cells of the animals. A transgenic founder animal can then be used to breed additional animals carrying the transgene. Moreover, transgenic animals carrying a transgene can further be bred to other transgenic animals carrying other transgenes. A transgenic animal also includes animals in which the entire animal or tissues in the animal have been produced using the homologously recombinant host cells described herein.

In another embodiment, transgenic non-human animals can be produced which contain selected systems that allow for regulated expression of the transgene. One example of such a system is the cre/loxP recombinase system of bacteriophage P1. For a description of the cre/loxP recombinase system, see, e.g., Lakso et al. PNAS 89:6232-6236 (1992). Another example of a recombinase system is the FLP recombinase system of S. cerevisiae (O'Gorman et al. Science 251:1351-1355 (1991). If a cre/loxP recombinase system is used to regulate expression of the transgene, animals containing transgenes encoding both the Cre recombinase and a selected protein is required. Such animals can be provided through the construction of “double” transgenic animals, e.g., by mating two transgenic animals, one containing a transgene encoding a selected protein and the other containing a transgene encoding a recombinase.

Clones of the non-human transgenic animals described herein can also be produced according to the methods described in Wilmut, I. et al. Nature 385:810-813 (1997) and PCT International Publication Nos. WO 97/07668 and WO 97/07669. In brief, a cell, e.g., a somatic cell, from the transgenic animal can be isolated and induced to exit the growth cycle and enter G₀ phase. The quiescent cell can then be fused, e.g., through the use of electrical pulses, to an enucleated oocyte from an animal of the same species from which the quiescent cell is isolated. The reconstructed oocyte is then cultured such that it develops to morula or blastocyst and then transferred to pseudopregnant female foster animal. The offspring born of this female foster animal will be a clone of the animal from which the cell, e.g., the somatic cell, is isolated.

Transgenic animals containing recombinant cells that express the peptides described herein are useful to conduct the assays described herein in an in vivo context. Accordingly, the various physiological factors that are present in vivo and that could effect substrate binding, kinase protein activation, and signal transduction, may not be evident from in vitro cell-free or cell-based assays. Accordingly, it is useful to provide non-human transgenic animals to assay in vivo kinase protein function, including substrate interaction, the effect of specific mutant kinase proteins on kinase protein function and substrate interaction, and the effect of chimeric kinase proteins. It is also possible to assess the effect of null mutations, that is, mutations that substantially or completely eliminate one or more kinase protein functions.

All publications and patents mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described method and system of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the above-described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the field of molecular biology or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

23 1 1868 DNA Human 1 ggcgtcctgg ccgccatgtg caccgtagtg gaccctcgca ttgtccggag atacctactc 60 aggcggcagc tcgggcaggg ggcctatggc attgtgtgga aggcagtgga ccggaggact 120 ggtgaggtcg tggccatcaa gaaaatcttt gatgctttta gggataagac agatgcccag 180 agaacattcc gggaaatcac gctcctccag gagtttgggg accatcccaa catcatcagc 240 ctccttgacg tgatccgggc agagaacgac agggacattt acctggtgtt tgagtttatg 300 gacactgacc tgaacgcagt catccggaag ggcggcctgc tgcaggacgt ccacgtgcgc 360 tccatcttct accagctcct gcgggccacc cggttcctcc actcggggca cgttgtgcac 420 cgggaccaga agccgtccaa tgtgctcctg gatgccaact gcacagtgaa gctgtgtgac 480 tttggcctgg cccgctccct gggcgacctc cccgaggggc ctgaggacca ggccgtgaca 540 gagtacgtgg ccacacgctg gtaccgagca ccggaggtgc tgctctcttc gcaccgatac 600 acccttgggg tggacatgtg gagtctgggc tgtatcctgg gggagatgct gcgggggaga 660 cccctgttcc ccggcaagtc caccctccac cagctggagc tgatcctgga gaccatccca 720 ccgccatctg aggaggccca caggccacga cagacgctgg atgccctcct accgccagac 780 acctccccag aggccttgga cctccttagg cgactcctgg tgttcgcccc ggacaagcgg 840 ttaagcgcga cccaggcact gcagcacccc tacgtgcaga ggttccactg ccccagcgac 900 gagtgggcac gagaggcaga tgtgcggccc cgggcacacg aaggggtcca gctctctgtg 960 cctgagtacc gcagccgcgt ctatcagatg atcctggagt gtggaggcag cagcggcacc 1020 tcgagagaga agggcccgga gggtgtctcc ccaagccagg cacacctgca caaacccaga 1080 gccgaccctc agctgccttc taggacacct gtgcagggtc ccagacccag gccccagagc 1140 agcccaggcc atgaccctgc cgagcacgag tccccccgtg cagccaagaa cgttcccagg 1200 cagaactccg ctcccctgct ccaaactgct ctcctagaga atggggaaag gccccctggg 1260 gcgaaggaag cgcccccctt gacactctcg ctggtgaagc caagcgggag gggagctgcg 1320 ccctccctga cctcccaggc tgcggctcag gtggccaacc aggccctgat ccggggtgac 1380 tggaaccggg gcggtggggt gagggtggcc agcgtacaac aggtccctcc ccggcttcct 1440 ccggaggccc ggcccggccg gaggatgttc agcacctctg ccttgcaggg tgcccagggg 1500 ggtgccaggg ctttgcttgg aggctactcc caagcctacg ggactgtctg ccactcggca 1560 ctgggccacc tgcccctgct ggaggggcac catgtgtgag ccgccctact cccttcacct 1620 ggccctctgt tcctgcccca gccccttccc cagacccctc tccagtctcc tgcacccctt 1680 agccctccct gctttgcctg gcccgttgaa gttccaggga gcttgcccgg gtctcctcgg 1740 gggagcagat gagggccctg cccccgcccc actgacttcc tccaataaag tcatgtctgc 1800 ccccaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1860 aaaaaaaa 1868 2 527 PRT Human 2 Met Cys Thr Val Val Asp Pro Arg Ile Val Arg Arg Tyr Leu Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 Arg Gln Leu Gly Gln Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Val Asp 20 25 30 Arg Arg Thr Gly Glu Val Val Ala Ile Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala Phe 35 40 45 Arg Asp Lys Thr Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Thr Leu Leu 50 55 60 Gln Glu Phe Gly Asp His Pro Asn Ile Ile Ser Leu Leu Asp Val Ile 65 70 75 80 Arg Ala Glu Asn Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Phe Met Asp 85 90 95 Thr Asp Leu Asn Ala Val Ile Arg Lys Gly Gly Leu Leu Gln Asp Val 100 105 110 His Val Arg Ser Ile Phe Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Thr Arg Phe Leu 115 120 125 His Ser Gly His Val Val His Arg Asp Gln Lys Pro Ser Asn Val Leu 130 135 140 Leu Asp Ala Asn Cys Thr Val Lys Leu Cys Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Gly Asp Leu Pro Glu Gly Pro Glu Asp Gln Ala Val Thr Glu 165 170 175 Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Val Leu Leu Ser Ser 180 185 190 His Arg Tyr Thr Leu Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Leu 195 200 205 Gly Glu Met Leu Arg Gly Arg Pro Leu Phe Pro Gly Lys Ser Thr Leu 210 215 220 His Gln Leu Glu Leu Ile Leu Glu Thr Ile Pro Pro Pro Ser Glu Glu 225 230 235 240 Ala His Arg Pro Arg Gln Thr Leu Asp Ala Leu Leu Pro Pro Asp Thr 245 250 255 Ser Pro Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Leu Arg Arg Leu Leu Val Phe Ala Pro 260 265 270 Asp Lys Arg Leu Ser Ala Thr Gln Ala Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Val Gln 275 280 285 Arg Phe His Cys Pro Ser Asp Glu Trp Ala Arg Glu Ala Asp Val Arg 290 295 300 Pro Arg Ala His Glu Gly Val Gln Leu Ser Val Pro Glu Tyr Arg Ser 305 310 315 320 Arg Val Tyr Gln Met Ile Leu Glu Cys Gly Gly Ser Ser Gly Thr Ser 325 330 335 Arg Glu Lys Gly Pro Glu Gly Val Ser Pro Ser Gln Ala His Leu His 340 345 350 Lys Pro Arg Ala Asp Pro Gln Leu Pro Ser Arg Thr Pro Val Gln Gly 355 360 365 Pro Arg Pro Arg Pro Gln Ser Ser Pro Gly His Asp Pro Ala Glu His 370 375 380 Glu Ser Pro Arg Ala Ala Lys Asn Val Pro Arg Gln Asn Ser Ala Pro 385 390 395 400 Leu Leu Gln Thr Ala Leu Leu Glu Asn Gly Glu Arg Pro Pro Gly Ala 405 410 415 Lys Glu Ala Pro Pro Leu Thr Leu Ser Leu Val Lys Pro Ser Gly Arg 420 425 430 Gly Ala Ala Pro Ser Leu Thr Ser Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln Val Ala Asn 435 440 445 Gln Ala Leu Ile Arg Gly Asp Trp Asn Arg Gly Gly Gly Val Arg Val 450 455 460 Ala Ser Val Gln Gln Val Pro Pro Arg Leu Pro Pro Glu Ala Arg Pro 465 470 475 480 Gly Arg Arg Met Phe Ser Thr Ser Ala Leu Gln Gly Ala Gln Gly Gly 485 490 495 Ala Arg Ala Leu Leu Gly Gly Tyr Ser Gln Ala Tyr Gly Thr Val Cys 500 505 510 His Ser Ala Leu Gly His Leu Pro Leu Leu Glu Gly His His Val 515 520 525 3 11827 DNA Human misc_feature (1)...(11827) n = A,T,C or G 3 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 60 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 120 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 180 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 240 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 300 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 360 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 420 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 480 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 540 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 600 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 660 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 720 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 780 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 840 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 900 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 960 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1020 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1080 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1140 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1200 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1260 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1320 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1380 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1440 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1500 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1560 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1620 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1680 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1740 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1800 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1860 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1920 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 1980 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 2040 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 2100 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnttgttcct tttccttctt tttttgaatt ctttttgagc 2160 aagtagtttg tgttgtggtt gttgtttgag acagggtctg gctctgtcac ccaggctgga 2220 gtgcagtggc gcaatccagg ctcactgcaa cctctgcctc ccggctcaag cgatcctcct 2280 acctcagcct cccaagtagc tgggacaaca ggctcatgtc accacaccca gctaattttc 2340 ctattttttt tttttaatag aaatgaggtt ttatgttgcc gaagctggtc tccaattcct 2400 gagtcattag ccacgcccgg ctaatttttg tatttttagt ggagacgggg tttcaccacg 2460 ttggccaggc tggtcttgaa cccttgacct cgggtgatcc acccgcctcg gcctcccaga 2520 gtgttgggat tacaggcgtg aaccaccgtg tcccgcccaa ataataatat actattaata 2580 cttcacatgt aacttaagaa ccttacaata catattctca tgttattttg taatagtata 2640 aatgtgtatt tccattatcc cccttcactt tttgctattg gtgtcatgca ttttacttct 2700 acaagttata gagtccacaa cagatagttc ttgtttctac tttagtcagc tgggctgggc 2760 gtggtcctgc gaggaggtgg gcggggcgca ctgtggggcg gggccggtgg ggacgtgggc 2820 ggggcgccat tgaggggagg ggcctgcggg gaggttgggt gggcccactg tggggcggag 2880 ccggggcctg ccgggggcgg ggggtgttgg gaggggcgcc ccgaggggcg gggccgggcc 2940 gccgtcggtt cccacggcaa ccgactcaac agtaaggccc cgcgggcgtc ctggccgcca 3000 tgtgcaccgt agtggaccct cgcattgtcc ggagatacct actcaggcgg cagctcgggc 3060 agggggtgag tgcctggggg tgcgtccgcg cgccgagggg cgcggcatat ctgcggatag 3120 aggacctgnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 3180 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 3240 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 3300 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnc 3360 ccgggtcact gaaagaaggg cggaccccag gctcaggtag cacaggggcg aggcccgaga 3420 agggcctgag cggttatggg gtgggcgcag agtgaagggc agagccttgt gtatctgtgt 3480 gtgtgtgtga gcatgtaagc ctgtgtgtgt gtgcgtgggt gtgtgggggg gtgttcgagg 3540 gtgccatggg ggaggggagg aagagccttc caggcagtgc agacggtaag tgcgtaggcc 3600 cagtgcaggg ttgtgtatgt gcaactggat aggagatgga gagagacagg tgagtggtga 3660 gggtccgatc gtgtgggagc tttggggaac ttccaagact ttggttttta ctgttgctga 3720 ggctgggagc tgtagcagct gctggtgtca ctttacaagg cccacccctg tgctgaggac 3780 ctaccgtggg tgtgcacggg agcggcagac ggagatgagt taaggggtta gcgtagccac 3840 gcagcgagag atgccagagg ctgggaccag ggtaggggca gaagagaccg tggcaggggc 3900 tagattctgg aggaatctga aggtagggcc aatgggattg ggggtggatg gggtgtgaga 3960 gaaagggagg gagagtgcct gggcagctgg aaggatgata gggcatcccc gagcttcatt 4020 tcctgcccag acgctcccct ctgtggcctc ctttcctcca gggcctcgcc agctctcacc 4080 ctcccttccc tctacctccc ctcctctgga agatgtcgga gtctagggca gcctgcagtt 4140 gcgggagccc acactcccat cccctctcgg gacccaggat gggaaggagg agcctcatgt 4200 ctgtagggac aatctgggtg ggcaggggat ggggggaagg ggctggccct gtgtgacggc 4260 actccttccc aggcctatgg cattgtgtgg aaggcagtgg accggaggac tggtgaggtc 4320 gtggccatca agaaaatctt tgatgctttt agggataaga cagatgccca ggtgagtgtg 4380 tggggagaag cgtgggagag gatgggggca ggaaggggca gccccttgcc ctggtgcctg 4440 gaagctcagg tgggagctgg agcccagtca tagcagatgt tctggcctgt ctcggaacac 4500 tgcccccttg ccacgcctgg tctggtgggt attgggtgac agacatcagc tcctttgggt 4560 cctctcagga catgggcttc cttcttgctc cacccaccca cacacctgtg tttctgtctc 4620 ttcagagaac attccgggaa atcacgctcc tccaggtgag tggcctgggc cctccagtcc 4680 aatccccttg cccaggtaca gatctctcca gacaggagag aaactggcct tcttgggccc 4740 cagagcacag cccctcctgg ccttccagcc gcctccgact ctctccccag gagtttgggg 4800 accatcccaa catcatcagc ctccttgacg tgatccgggc agagaacgac agggacattt 4860 acctggtgtt tgagtttatg ggtgagtgag gccccggcca gcgccccagc cccacctctg 4920 ttctgtcctg acgccgtctg cgggtccctc tgcgtgtccc tctgcgtgtc cctctgcagc 4980 tggcccacag tggcttgctc cctcaccatg taccctggac tcagggacag acagctgact 5040 agtgtcagcc tccagagcca gcagcgaccc ctttcgtccc acctgcccca ggctcctgct 5100 ctgaccacag tttgcagttg cgttctcctt tttcttctca ttttatgaaa caaaggcaac 5160 atgaaataaa gtgttaaaac tcctgcagac ctcaccgctg tgcccacagg cagtgcacag 5220 gatggaggag cggggcggcc aggccgtggg ctggttcaaa gtgggacaga cctgccaggt 5280 gcccctctcc cactcccccc aggttgcccc cccagccccc cacccccgac tgcagtgcgc 5340 accctctctg cagacactga cctgaacgca gtcatccgga agggcggcct gctgcaggac 5400 gtccacgtgc gctccatctt ctaccagctc ctgcgggcca cccggttcct ccactcgggg 5460 cacgttgtgc accgggacca gaaggtgcgg ttcccccgcc cccgctatgc cacgtggccc 5520 ggctcccggc cccacccagc cccggggcct cagcctgcct cctctctgca gccgtccaat 5580 gtgctcctgg atgccaactg cacagtgaag ctgtgtgact ttggcctggc ccgctccctg 5640 ggcgacctcc ctgaggggcc tgaggaccag gccgtgacag agtacgtggc cacacgctgg 5700 taccgagcac cggaggtgct gctctcttcg caccggtaat agcgagacat ccccaacccc 5760 cctccacctc cctgctgccc tcctgcccag ccagggctcc caggcctccc gtactccgac 5820 cctgccttgg tccacaagtg ttcccccatt caccccccag caaccccacc cccacctctg 5880 cctctgggtc tctccatgcc tacaccgctt cctgccccag atacaccctt ggggtggaca 5940 tgtggagtct gggctgtatc ctgggggaga tgctgcgggg gagacccctg ttccccggca 6000 cgtccaccct ccaccagctg gagctgatcc tggagaccat cccaccgcca tctgaggagg 6060 gtgagccagg ctgctggggc tgggcaccag gaatgctgca ggtcagacag cacagctgtg 6120 gggagacagc agctgacagg ctaggactgt gctgagagga gggacgggga cagggaggat 6180 ccagaggatg gggcaggagc cccaggaaga ccgactggtg atgggggccc aggaggagct 6240 gctgggggtg ggtgtgggca aggcagcacc tggcacagtc accatgagag ccaagcagtg 6300 accgtgaagg ggccagcagg ctggacaagg tccccaaggg attcgggtag caggggcagg 6360 gactgtcact gtgccgggag ctggggtgtg cagagacagc tgggcaggag agattcaggt 6420 gctgagggaa gaggtggagg aaggcagtgg tagaggggcc atgggggtca ctcttgaggg 6480 tgggggcaag agggagctgc accgccaggc atagctgctt gtctgggtgg agcctcctgg 6540 gccgtggagg tgggcgccag catccacttc tgtgagcaca ccccagggcc aggtgcccga 6600 gtgtggagca ggggtcatgt gcgggtgctc ccgtgcacag gctgggtggc acgccctggt 6660 gatggggtgt ttgagccccg ccagacagca gaaaccctgt agagaggctg tgctccctgg 6720 ggctggaaga gatgactggc cccagatgcc ctgagccgcc ccagccgacc aggcctgcct 6780 gggtcacacc accttctgct gccccagacc tcctggctct cggctcaggc tgccgtgcct 6840 ctgtgctgca ccagctgggg tcccggtgag tgggggcact tcggtgaggg tgacagggtg 6900 gcctatctca agggagcagg gccaccttcc tgcaagttta ctggggccag tttgtaccag 6960 ttcagattct gcctgttttc aagatggcag tcccaaaccc aacaactgtt ggccacactg 7020 aaagcaggag cccctctggt gctcctagag ggtggcccag aggagctgtg ccagggcgtg 7080 gagaggaggg caccaggggg ccgcaggggt ctctccaccc tgcaggggcc cagactgcct 7140 gcaggtcagg cacaggggca tctacctaga caggacagca gggtggaccc cagtttggaa 7200 gctgagcccc cagccacgaa catggatctg aggaggggcc cttgggtcgg gccctggaga 7260 cgacacacgg cagcccacag gccacgacag acgctggatg ccctcctacc gccagacacc 7320 tccccagagg ccttggacct ccttaggcga ctcctggtgt tcgccccgga caagcggtta 7380 agcgcgaccc aggcactgca gcacccctac gtgcagaggt gggggtggga gagagtcccc 7440 caagtgcggg gggacagagg tgggggcagg agagagccag cccatgaggg acagccccca 7500 cagcagggac cctgctgtga cggcttgagg ggctcccttg gccgcagccc gggccccacc 7560 tccctggctc cctgcaggtt ccactgcccc agcgacgagt gggcacgaga ggcagatgtg 7620 cggccccggg cacacgaagg ggtccagctc tctgtgcctg agtaccgcag ccgcgtctat 7680 caggtgctcc ggctctcgac ccctatcatc ccctgtctac tgcaccctgg aggctgcctc 7740 ctatgtcaga gacccccaaa cgccccatgc ccaggctgtg acctctgagc acccttcccc 7800 tcccgcagat gatcctggag tgtggaggca gcagcggcac ctcgagagag aagggcccgg 7860 agggtgtctc cccaagccag gcacacctgc acaaacccag agccgaccct cagctgcctt 7920 ctaggacacc tgtgcagggt cccagaccca ggccccagag cagcccaggc catgaccctg 7980 ccgagcacgg tgtgtgatct ttgctggccg cccacgcgga gcatggcccg ggccccttct 8040 gcctgtgctg ccaactatgc gcagcattcg gttcctgacc ctggggttga cccactgacc 8100 ccggggttga cccactgacc ccacagagtc cccccgtgca gccaagaacg ttcccaggca 8160 gaactccgct cccctgctcc aaactgctct cctagggaat ggggaaaggc cccctggggc 8220 gaaggaagcg ccccccttga cactctcgct ggtaagtcat ggtggggcgg gcacaggagg 8280 gacccctcct ctgcaccttt cagtgaccct gtgacatggc ccttcccagg tgaagccaag 8340 cgggagggga gctgcgccct ccctgacctc ccaggctgcg gctcaggtgg ccaaccaggc 8400 cctgatccgg ggtgactgga accggggcgg tggggtgagg gtggccagcg tacaacaggt 8460 aagcccggcc cagtctgccc ccgtcccctc atcctccttt cccctttccc cttcccccct 8520 gcttttccct cccttcccca tgcttcccat tgcccctcca atgtccagtt caaatctctc 8580 gaggacctca aggcctcccc tccactgcac cccctctgat ggccccttta tgtgaccctc 8640 aactgtacac aggtccctcc ccggcttcct ccggaggccc ggcccggccg gaggatgttc 8700 agcacctctg ccttgcaggg tgcccagggg ggtgccaggg ctttgcttgg aggctactcc 8760 caagcctacg ggactgtctg ccactcggca ctgggccacc tgcccctgct ggaggggcac 8820 catgtgtgag ccgccctact cccttcacct ggccctctgt tcctgcccca gccccttccc 8880 cagacccctc tccagtctcc tgcacccctt agccctccct gctttgcctg gcccgttgaa 8940 gttccaggga gcttgcccgg gtctcctcgg gggagcagat gagggccctg cccccgcccc 9000 actgacttcc tccaataaag tcatgtctgc ccccaaccta agcagccatc gttcctcccc 9060 tcccctctga ggtcacagca tccactagct gggggccccg gcccctttcc tgaagcctcc 9120 actcctctga ggaccccacc ccacccccgt cctgaaacct ccaccccaga gcccagtgcc 9180 gccccctaga ggccctgccc actgcacatc cagcactggg cttttccctc caggtttgcc 9240 tggggcagct tcttgttctt tgtccatcat ttccttacct gctgtggctt cagggtccag 9300 gctgcccccc agggtggtcc tgtggggtag ggacgtaggg tcaccccctg gccatgtttg 9360 tgactctgag ccagaggaga gaaggggaga gagaaggggg acacccctcc ccctgctgtc 9420 agggactgca gcctgcgccc cctagtatgg ccactgcacc tgatctgtct tcaggtctcc 9480 gtaggtgagg gtgggagaca gacatctcgc gaggtcaggg ttacctcctc ttgtcacccc 9540 caggcaaggt ccctggtgtg agttcaggcc agggctgtgc agggctgcaa agatcaaagg 9600 ggccctgtgg gcacagacct gtgtcctagg gtgccaggtg tcctcagctg cacctgccca 9660 tgggttgggg ttggaacaca aggaggcagc tggaaagctc acaggctgga ggagctcaca 9720 gtctaaaggg cgcggcctgt gctgtcggtg gcggagttgg gctgccaggc tcacagtctg 9780 ggaagctcat aggccggagg agctcacagt ttgaagggtg cggcctgtgc tgtggtcggt 9840 gttgggctgc caggagaggg gcgctgctgg gttgtggaag ccattgccac catgggggag 9900 ggcggggaag gacaagatgt gggtggggga gctgagcaga aggtgagagc tggcgctgcc 9960 ctggtgctgg accaggcacc tgcaagagac tcagaaaggg aggctgggtt tgggagaagg 10020 ttggaggagg cggaggaggg atcgggaggg cccgaggaag cggtgagcca gtcagagacc 10080 cagcccaggg gctgtttcct gagggggctg ccgagggagg tgcttgttga gcttcaaaag 10140 cccaaggcgc aggcccaggg tgctgaacaa gcaggacaga gaggctgtgg gagaggaagc 10200 tgcagagagg ccacggggct gcagggttgg aggcttggcc tcaggctggg cagtgtgtgg 10260 tggggctgct gagtggggaa tcgcaggtgg gcacccagga gtgtgcctgc acagggggca 10320 tcggggacag ggacaggaga gcagcgtgaa gttggggagg ccaaggtggg ccttggaagt 10380 ggagctgggg ggtctttagt gccccccaca ggggtgggtg gtgggtccac aggggaaatc 10440 tgggaggcca cgtggttaaa ggctgcagga tgtaactggg cgattataca cactggggaa 10500 catgctagaa tactttgtgt gttgtgtttt attaacacca aaatgtgcca catcatggtt 10560 tagaagaggt ggagggtgca ggcaggaggc tccgaaggcc caggcagggc cgccagcctc 10620 tggcctctcc atggactcca gctggagagc ctgtccgctc agcaacaccc caggcagcac 10680 caagaataac atgcccacaa gaacatcatg gccaagagac gcacaggcgc atcccgcttc 10740 caggcacctt tcccacctgg ccagaagtcc ctgctgtcat cccgacttgc acggtggttt 10800 tggtaaccag tgggctgtgc aggagtgaaa gtggggtcac tttccttcct ttcccagctg 10860 ctggagtcgg aactgctgcc tttgtttggc ggccttgttt cttaaatcag ttccctctta 10920 ggatttatta cactaaaaaa aaaattagtt tttgaaaaga aataggagaa tacagaaaca 10980 tgaatttcac gaggctatca tctaacagtg ggggctttct acacacgtgg tgccaaaatg 11040 tgtcattctg agtcaattgc aattcctctc taggagtgaa aagagataaa agataagcca 11100 agaaccctgg acagattctt ggtgttggtg acaaagagga aaggacctga gaatggggct 11160 ggtggggaga ggggggtgtc tgctggatac caggaggaca aggaccactc ccacctgcag 11220 gggtgcccag gacctagttg ggctcggcct cagctgcacc ttgtcccctg ccctcacctg 11280 gccccatacc tgtcaaggat aagcactcca caaccagccc ttctagcgcc tggcttgggc 11340 tgggcctgtg cagggggtgc tcatgaggcc ggggccacag gttgtctgga ccatgtttta 11400 ctgtgctgca aaggccagtg ccccctcccc actctcaccc agtgctggcc agagcctcgc 11460 tggaggagat ggcagacctg gccaaggcgc cccttcgggc ttccctgtgt cccgtcccca 11520 gaggcctgcc ctgtccagct tccttgccac tccaaggggc atcttctggt nnnnnnnnnn 11580 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 11640 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 11700 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 11760 nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn 11820 nnnnnnn 11827 4 543 PRT Rattus norvegicus 4 Met Cys Ala Ala Glu Val Asp Arg His Val Ser Gln Arg Tyr Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Lys Arg Arg Leu Gly Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Met 20 25 30 Asp Arg Arg Thr Gly Glu Val Val Ala Ile Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala 35 40 45 Phe Arg Asp Gln Thr Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Met Leu 50 55 60 Leu Arg Glu Phe Gly Gly His Pro Asn Ile Ile Arg Leu Leu Asp Val 65 70 75 80 Ile Pro Ala Lys Asn Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Ser Met 85 90 95 Asp Thr Asp Leu Asn Ala Val Ile Gln Lys Gly Arg Leu Leu Glu Asp 100 105 110 Ile His Lys Arg Cys Ile Phe Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Thr Lys Phe 115 120 125 Ile His Ser Gly Arg Val Ile His Arg Asp Gln Lys Pro Ala Asn Val 130 135 140 Leu Leu Asp Ala Ala Cys Arg Val Lys Leu Cys Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 Arg Ser Leu Ser Asp Phe Pro Glu Gly Leu Gly Gln Ala Leu Thr Glu 165 170 175 Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Val Leu Leu Ser Ser 180 185 190 Arg Trp Tyr Thr Pro Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Leu 195 200 205 Gly Glu Met Leu Arg Gly Gln Pro Leu Phe Pro Gly Thr Ser Thr Phe 210 215 220 His Gln Leu Glu Leu Ile Leu Glu Thr Ile Pro Leu Pro Ser Met Glu 225 230 235 240 Glu Leu Gln Gly Leu Gly Ser Asp Tyr Ser Ala Leu Ile Leu Gln Asn 245 250 255 Leu Gly Ser Arg Pro Arg Gln Thr Leu Asp Ala Leu Leu Pro Pro Asp 260 265 270 Thr Pro Pro Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Leu Lys Arg Leu Leu Ala Phe Ala 275 280 285 Pro Asp Lys Arg Leu Ser Ala Glu Gln Ala Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Val 290 295 300 Gln Arg Phe His Cys Pro Asp Arg Glu Trp Thr Arg Gly Ser Asp Val 305 310 315 320 Arg Leu Pro Val His Glu Gly Asp Gln Leu Ser Ala Pro Glu Tyr Arg 325 330 335 Asn Arg Leu Tyr Gln Met Ile Leu Glu Arg Arg Arg Asn Ser Arg Ser 340 345 350 Pro Arg Glu Glu Asp Leu Gly Val Val Ala Ser Arg Ala Glu Leu Arg 355 360 365 Ala Ser Gln Arg Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Gly Val Leu Pro Gln Val Leu 370 375 380 Ala Glu Thr Pro Ala Arg Lys Arg Gly Pro Lys Pro Gln Asn Gly His 385 390 395 400 Gly His Asp Pro Glu His Val Glu Val Arg Arg Gln Ser Ser Asp Pro 405 410 415 Leu Tyr Gln Leu Pro Pro Pro Gly Ser Gly Glu Arg Pro Pro Gly Ala 420 425 430 Thr Gly Glu Pro Pro Ser Ala Pro Ser Gly Val Lys Thr His Val Arg 435 440 445 Ala Val Ala Pro Ser Leu Thr Ser Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln Ala Ala Asn 450 455 460 Gln Pro Leu Ile Arg Ser Asp Pro Ala Arg Gly Gly Gly Pro Arg Ala 465 470 475 480 Val Gly Ala Arg Arg Val Pro Ser Arg Leu Pro Arg Glu Ala Pro Glu 485 490 495 Pro Arg Pro Gly Arg Arg Met Phe Gly Ile Ser Val Ser Gln Gly Ala 500 505 510 Gln Gly Ala Ala Arg Ala Ala Leu Gly Gly Tyr Ser Gln Ala Tyr Gly 515 520 525 Thr Val Cys Arg Ser Ala Leu Gly Arg Leu Pro Leu Leu Pro Gly 530 535 540 5 347 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 5 Val Asp Thr His Ile His Glu Lys Phe Asp Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Tyr Asp Lys Arg Ser Arg 20 25 30 Glu Thr Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala Phe Arg Asn Pro Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ser Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Val Met Phe Leu Gln Glu Phe Gly 50 55 60 Lys His Pro Asn Val Ile Lys Leu Tyr Asn Ile Phe Arg Ala Asp Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Arg Val Ile Arg Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ala Phe Glu Phe Met Glu 85 90 95 Ala Asp Leu His Asn Val Ile Lys Lys Gly Ser Ile Leu Lys Asp Val 100 105 110 His Lys Gln Tyr Ile Met Cys Gln Leu Phe Arg Ala Ile Arg Phe Leu 115 120 125 His Ser Gly Asn Val Leu His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Val Leu 130 135 140 Leu Asp Ala Asp Cys Arg Val Lys Leu Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Ser Ser Leu Glu Asp Tyr Pro Glu Gly Gln Lys Met Pro Asp 165 170 175 Leu Thr Glu Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Glu Ile Leu 180 185 190 Leu Ala Ala Lys Arg Tyr Thr Lys Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly 195 200 205 Cys Ile Leu Ala Glu Met Leu Ile Gly Arg Ala Leu Phe Pro Gly Ser 210 215 220 Ser Thr Ile Asn Gln Ile Glu Arg Ile Met Asn Thr Ile Ala Lys Pro 225 230 235 240 Ser Arg Ala Asp Ile Ala Ser Ile Gly Ser His Tyr Ala Ala Ser Val 245 250 255 Leu Glu Lys Met Pro Gln Arg Pro Arg Lys Pro Leu Asp Leu Ile Ile 260 265 270 Thr Gln Ser Gln Thr Ala Ala Ile Asp Met Val Gln Arg Leu Leu Ile 275 280 285 Phe Ala Pro Gln Lys Arg Leu Thr Val Glu Gln Cys Leu Val His Pro 290 295 300 Tyr Val Val Gln Phe His Asn Pro Ser Glu Glu Pro Val Leu Asn Tyr 305 310 315 320 Glu Val Tyr Pro Pro Leu Pro Asp His Ile Gln Leu Ser Ile Asp Asp 325 330 335 Tyr Arg Asp Arg Leu Tyr Glu Met Ile Asp Glu 340 345 6 340 PRT Dictyostelium discoideum 6 Ile Asp Lys His Val Leu Arg Lys Tyr Glu Val Phe His Lys Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Glu Ala Ile Asp Lys Lys Pro His 20 25 30 His Thr Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala Phe Gln Asn Ala Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Met Phe Leu Gln Glu Leu His 50 55 60 Gly His Glu Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Leu Asn Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu His Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Ala Val Ile Arg Ala Lys Ile Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Gln Tyr Thr 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Lys Ala Leu Lys Tyr Met His Ser Ala Asn Val 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Leu Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 Leu Val Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Thr Ser Leu 145 150 155 160 Glu Ser Ile Ala Glu Ala Asn Pro Val Leu Thr Glu Tyr Val Ala Thr 165 170 175 Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr Lys Tyr Thr 180 185 190 Lys Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Ile Gly Cys Ile Leu Gly Glu Leu Leu 195 200 205 Gly Glu Lys Ala Met Phe Pro Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Asp 210 215 220 Leu Ile Ile Glu Val Thr Gly Arg Pro Ser Ala Glu Asp Ile Glu Ala 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Thr Met Leu Glu Ser Leu Pro Pro Ser 245 250 255 Asn Pro Arg Ser Leu Ser Asp Met Tyr Pro Ser Ala Ser Val Asp Ala 260 265 270 Leu Asp Leu Leu Lys Lys Leu Ser Gln Phe Asn Pro Asp Lys Arg Ile 275 280 285 Thr Ala Glu Glu Ala Leu Ala His Pro Phe Val Thr Gln Phe His Asn 290 295 300 Pro Ala Glu Glu Pro His Phe Asp Arg Ile Ile Lys Ile Ser Ile Asp 305 310 315 320 Asp Gly Gln Lys Phe Pro Ile Ala Glu Tyr Arg Asn Arg Leu Tyr Asn 325 330 335 Asp Ile Ile Lys 340 7 341 PRT Leishmania mexicana 7 Met Ser Ala Glu Ile Glu Ser His Ile Leu Lys Lys Tyr Glu Ile Gln 1 5 10 15 Thr Gln Leu Gly Gln Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Arg Ala Leu Glu 20 25 30 Arg Lys His Asn Arg Val Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Ile Tyr Asp Ala Phe 35 40 45 Gln Asn Ser Thr Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Met Phe Leu 50 55 60 His Arg Leu His His Pro Asn Ile Ile Arg Leu Leu His Val His Arg 65 70 75 80 Ala Phe Asn Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Tyr Met Glu Thr 85 90 95 Asp Leu His Val Val Ile Arg Ala Asn Ile Leu Glu Gly Ile His Lys 100 105 110 Gln Phe Ile Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Lys Thr Met Lys Phe Leu His Ser 115 120 125 Ala Glu Ile Leu His Arg Asp Met Lys Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Val Asn 130 135 140 Ser Asp Cys Thr Met Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile 145 150 155 160 Leu Ser Leu Glu Gly Glu Gln Ala Ser Arg Pro Val Leu Thr Asp Tyr 165 170 175 Ile Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Pro Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Thr Lys Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Val Gly Cys Ile Leu Gly 195 200 205 Glu Leu Met Leu Gly Lys Pro Met Phe Pro Gly Arg Ser Thr Thr Asn 210 215 220 Gln Leu Glu Leu Ile Cys Ser Val Thr Gly Met Pro Ser Ala Ala Asp 225 230 235 240 Val Ala Ala Thr Asn Ser Gln Phe Ala Asn Ala Met Leu Arg Asp Ile 245 250 255 His Cys Ala His Arg Arg Thr Phe Ala Glu Leu Leu Pro Ser Ala Ser 260 265 270 Ala Asp Ala Leu Asn Leu Ile Glu Arg Leu Met Cys Phe Asn Pro Asn 275 280 285 Arg Arg Leu Ser Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Glu His Pro Tyr Val Ala Ala 290 295 300 Phe His Arg Pro Asp Asp Glu Pro Val Ala Pro Glu Pro Ile Thr Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Leu Pro Asp Ser Gln Arg Leu Pro Leu Ala Lys Tyr Arg Asp Ala 325 330 335 Ile Tyr Glu Gln Ile 340 8 342 PRT Drosophila 8 Leu Asp Gln Thr Val Glu Ser Ile Phe Asp Val Arg Lys Arg Met Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Thr Asp Arg Arg Thr Lys 20 25 30 Asn Thr Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Val Phe Asp Ala Phe Arg Asp Glu Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Tyr Arg Glu Val Ile Phe Leu Arg Ala Phe Arg 50 55 60 Cys His Pro Asn Ile Val Arg Leu Val Asp Ile Phe Lys Ala Ser Asn 65 70 75 80 Asn Leu Asp Phe Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Phe Met Glu Ser Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Asn Val Ile Lys Arg Gly Asn Val Leu Lys Asp Val His Lys Arg Phe 100 105 110 Val Met Tyr Gln Leu Ile Asn Ala Ile Lys Phe Ile His Ser Gly Asn 115 120 125 Val Ile His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Ile Asp Ser Lys 130 135 140 Cys Arg Leu Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Thr Leu Ser Ser 145 150 155 160 Arg Arg Ile Tyr Asp Asp Leu Glu Gln Asp Gly Met Leu Thr Asp Tyr 165 170 175 Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Val Ala Ser Arg 180 185 190 Asn Tyr Thr Lys Gly Ile Asp Met Trp Gly Leu Gly Cys Ile Leu Gly 195 200 205 Glu Met Ile Arg Gln Lys Pro Leu Phe Gln Gly Thr Ser Thr Val Asn 210 215 220 Gln Ile Glu Lys Ile Val Thr Ser Leu Pro Asn Val Thr Lys Leu Asp 225 230 235 240 Ile Ala Ser Ile Gly Pro Ser Phe Gly Ser Val Leu Leu Ser Arg Asn 245 250 255 Ile Gln Arg Asp Arg Arg Tyr Ser Leu Asp Glu Met Met Lys Asn Cys 260 265 270 Cys Asp Asp Gly Ile Ser Leu Val Lys Ala Leu Leu Val Leu Asn Pro 275 280 285 His Asn Arg Leu Thr Ala Lys Glu Ala Ile Arg His Pro Tyr Val Ser 290 295 300 Arg Phe Gln Tyr Ala Ser Ala Glu Met Asp Leu His Met Asp Val Val 305 310 315 320 Pro Pro Leu Lys Asp His Val Arg Tyr Asp Val Asp Gln Tyr Arg Asn 325 330 335 Ser Leu Tyr Glu Leu Ile 340 9 338 PRT Plasmodium falciparum 9 Ile Asp Glu Asn Val Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Leu Lys Lys Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Cys Lys Lys Asn Lys 20 25 30 Asn Ile Val Ala Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Gly Ala Phe Gln Asn Cys Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Ile Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Asn 50 55 60 Gly His Asp Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Met Asp Val Ile Lys Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ile Phe Asp Phe Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Glu Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Lys Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Tyr Ile His Ser Gly Gly Leu 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 His Ile Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Ser Thr His 145 150 155 160 Val Asn Glu Asn Lys Val Pro Ile Leu Thr Asp Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr His Tyr Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asp Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Met Gly Glu Leu Leu Cys 195 200 205 Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Ile Gln Val Ile Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Lys Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Pro Phe Ala Glu Lys Ile Ile Ser Ser Phe Val Asp Leu Lys 245 250 255 Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Cys Tyr Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Ser Leu 260 265 270 Asp Leu Leu Glu Lys Leu Leu Gln Phe Asn Pro Ser Lys Arg Ile Ser 275 280 285 Ala Glu Asn Ala Leu Lys His Lys Tyr Val Glu Glu Phe His Ser Ile 290 295 300 Ile Asp Glu Pro Thr Cys Arg His Ile Ile Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 305 310 315 320 Asn Thr Lys Tyr Arg Val Asn Phe Tyr Arg Asn Val Val Tyr Phe Val 325 330 335 Ile Met 10 338 PRT Plasmodium falciparum 10 Ile Asp Glu Asn Val Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Leu Lys Lys Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Cys Lys Lys Asn Lys 20 25 30 Asn Ile Val Ala Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Gly Ala Phe Gln Asn Cys Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Ile Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Asn 50 55 60 Gly His Asp Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Met Asp Val Ile Lys Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ile Phe Asp Phe Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Glu Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Lys Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Tyr Ile His Ser Gly Gly Leu 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 His Ile Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Ser Thr His 145 150 155 160 Val Asn Glu Asn Lys Val Pro Ile Leu Thr Asp Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr His Tyr Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asp Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Met Gly Glu Leu Leu Cys 195 200 205 Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Ile Gln Val Ile Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Lys Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Pro Phe Ala Glu Lys Ile Ile Ser Ser Phe Val Asp Leu Lys 245 250 255 Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Cys Tyr Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Ser Leu 260 265 270 Asp Leu Leu Glu Lys Leu Leu Gln Phe Asn Pro Ser Lys Arg Ile Ser 275 280 285 Ala Glu Asn Ala Leu Lys His Lys Tyr Val Glu Glu Phe His Ser Ile 290 295 300 Ile Asp Glu Pro Thr Cys Arg His Ile Ile Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 305 310 315 320 Asn Thr Lys Tyr Arg Val Asn Phe Tyr Arg Asn Val Val Tyr Phe Val 325 330 335 Ile Met 11 338 PRT Plasmodium falciparum 11 Ile Asp Glu Asn Val Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Leu Lys Lys Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Cys Lys Lys Asn Lys 20 25 30 Asn Ile Val Ala Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Gly Ala Phe Gln Asn Cys Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Ile Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Asn 50 55 60 Gly His Asp Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Met Asp Val Ile Lys Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ile Phe Asp Phe Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Glu Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Lys Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Tyr Ile His Ser Gly Gly Leu 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 His Ile Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Ser Thr His 145 150 155 160 Val Asn Glu Asn Lys Val Pro Ile Leu Thr Asp Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr His Tyr Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asp Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Met Gly Glu Leu Leu Cys 195 200 205 Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Ile Gln Val Ile Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Lys Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Pro Phe Ala Glu Lys Ile Ile Ser Ser Phe Val Asp Leu Lys 245 250 255 Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Cys Tyr Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Ser Leu 260 265 270 Asp Leu Leu Glu Lys Leu Leu Gln Phe Asn Pro Ser Lys Arg Ile Ser 275 280 285 Ala Glu Asn Ala Leu Lys His Lys Tyr Val Glu Glu Phe His Ser Ile 290 295 300 Ile Asp Glu Pro Thr Cys Arg His Ile Ile Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 305 310 315 320 Asn Thr Lys Tyr Arg Val Asn Phe Tyr Arg Asn Val Val Tyr Phe Val 325 330 335 Ile Met 12 303 PRT Leishmania mexicana 12 Ile Asp Gly Glu Val Glu Gln Arg Tyr Arg Ile Leu Arg His Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Trp Cys Ala Leu Asp Arg Arg Thr Gly 20 25 30 Lys Cys Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Val Tyr Asp Ala Phe Gly Asn Val Gln 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Tyr Arg Glu Val Met Leu Leu Gln Arg Leu Arg 50 55 60 His Asn Pro Phe Ile Val Gly Ile Leu Asp Val Ile Arg Ala Ala Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Ile Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Leu Ile Glu Thr Asp Leu Thr 85 90 95 Ala Ile Ile Arg Lys Asn Leu Leu Gln Arg Asp His Lys Arg Phe Leu 100 105 110 Thr Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Thr Val Ala Gln Leu His Ala Gln Asn Ile 115 120 125 Ile His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ala Asn Val Phe Val Ser Ser Asp Cys 130 135 140 Ser Ile Lys Leu Gly Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Thr Phe Arg Ser Gly 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asp Asn Glu Gln Glu Phe Leu Asp Leu Thr Asp Tyr Ile Ala Thr 165 170 175 Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Glu Ile Leu Val Lys Ser Arg Ala Tyr Ser 180 185 190 Thr Ala Met Asp Met Trp Ala Ile Gly Cys Val Ile Gly Glu Met Leu 195 200 205 Leu Gly Arg Pro Leu Phe Glu Gly Arg Asn Thr Leu Asp Gln Leu Arg 210 215 220 Leu Ile Ile Glu Ala Ile Gly Val Pro Ser Asp Ala Asp Val Arg Ser 225 230 235 240 Leu His Ser Pro Glu Leu Glu Lys Leu Ile Asn Ser Leu Pro Thr Pro 245 250 255 Leu Ile Phe Ser Pro Leu Val Gly Asn Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ser Glu 260 265 270 Ala Thr Asp Leu Met Met Lys Leu Ile Val Phe Asn Pro Lys Arg Arg 275 280 285 Leu Ser Ala Val Glu Ala Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Val Ala Pro Phe 290 295 300 13 304 PRT Dictyostelium discoideum 13 Val Pro Arg Arg Tyr Ser Ile Val Lys Cys Ile Gly His Gly Ala Tyr 1 5 10 15 Gly Val Val Cys Ser Ala Lys Asp Asn Leu Thr Gly Glu Lys Val Ala 20 25 30 Ile Lys Lys Ile Ser Lys Ala Phe Asp Asn Leu Lys Asp Thr Lys Arg 35 40 45 Thr Leu Arg Glu Ile His Leu Leu Arg His Phe Lys His Glu Asn Leu 50 55 60 Ile Ser Ile Lys Asp Ile Leu Lys Pro Asn Ser Lys Glu Gln Phe Glu 65 70 75 80 Asp Val Tyr Ile Val Ser Glu Leu Met Asp Thr Asp Leu His Gln Ile 85 90 95 Ile Thr Ser Pro Gln Pro Leu Ser Asp Asp His Cys Gln Tyr Phe Val 100 105 110 Tyr Gln Met Leu Arg Gly Leu Lys His Ile His Ser Ala Asn Val Leu 115 120 125 His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Ile Asn Glu Asp Cys Leu 130 135 140 Leu Lys Ile Cys Asp Leu Gly Leu Ala Arg Val Glu Asp Ala Thr His 145 150 155 160 Gln Gly Phe Met Thr Glu Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro 165 170 175 Glu Val Ile Leu Ser Trp Asn Lys Tyr Thr Lys Ala Ile Asp Ile Trp 180 185 190 Ser Val Gly Cys Ile Phe Ala Glu Leu Leu Gly Arg Lys Pro Leu Phe 195 200 205 Gln Gly Lys Asp Tyr Ile His Gln Ile Thr Leu Ile Ile Glu Thr Ile 210 215 220 Gly Ser Pro Ser Glu Glu Asp Ile Cys Asn Ile Ala Asn Glu Gln Ala 225 230 235 240 Arg Gln Phe Ile Arg Ser Leu Asn Met Gly Asn Gln Pro Lys Val Asn 245 250 255 Phe Ala Asn Met Phe Pro Lys Ala Asn Pro Asp Ala Ile Asp Leu Leu 260 265 270 Glu Arg Met Leu Tyr Phe Asp Pro Ser Lys Arg Leu Thr Val Glu Glu 275 280 285 Ala Leu Ala His Pro Tyr Phe Gln Ser Leu His Asp Pro Ser Asp Glu 290 295 300 14 543 PRT Rattus norvegicus 14 Met Cys Ala Ala Glu Val Asp Arg His Val Ser Gln Arg Tyr Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Lys Arg Arg Leu Gly Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Met 20 25 30 Asp Arg Arg Thr Gly Glu Val Val Ala Ile Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala 35 40 45 Phe Arg Asp Gln Thr Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Met Leu 50 55 60 Leu Arg Glu Phe Gly Gly His Pro Asn Ile Ile Arg Leu Leu Asp Val 65 70 75 80 Ile Pro Ala Lys Asn Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Ser Met 85 90 95 Asp Thr Asp Leu Asn Ala Val Ile Gln Lys Gly Arg Leu Leu Glu Asp 100 105 110 Ile His Lys Arg Cys Ile Phe Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Thr Lys Phe 115 120 125 Ile His Ser Gly Arg Val Ile His Arg Asp Gln Lys Pro Ala Asn Val 130 135 140 Leu Leu Asp Ala Ala Cys Arg Val Lys Leu Cys Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala 145 150 155 160 Arg Ser Leu Ser Asp Phe Pro Glu Gly Leu Gly Gln Ala Leu Thr Glu 165 170 175 Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Val Leu Leu Ser Ser 180 185 190 Arg Trp Tyr Thr Pro Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Leu 195 200 205 Gly Glu Met Leu Arg Gly Gln Pro Leu Phe Pro Gly Thr Ser Thr Phe 210 215 220 His Gln Leu Glu Leu Ile Leu Glu Thr Ile Pro Leu Pro Ser Met Glu 225 230 235 240 Glu Leu Gln Gly Leu Gly Ser Asp Tyr Ser Ala Leu Ile Leu Gln Asn 245 250 255 Leu Gly Ser Arg Pro Arg Gln Thr Leu Asp Ala Leu Leu Pro Pro Asp 260 265 270 Thr Pro Pro Glu Ala Leu Asp Leu Leu Lys Arg Leu Leu Ala Phe Ala 275 280 285 Pro Asp Lys Arg Leu Ser Ala Glu Gln Ala Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Val 290 295 300 Gln Arg Phe His Cys Pro Asp Arg Glu Trp Thr Arg Gly Ser Asp Val 305 310 315 320 Arg Leu Pro Val His Glu Gly Asp Gln Leu Ser Ala Pro Glu Tyr Arg 325 330 335 Asn Arg Leu Tyr Gln Met Ile Leu Glu Arg Arg Arg Asn Ser Arg Ser 340 345 350 Pro Arg Glu Glu Asp Leu Gly Val Val Ala Ser Arg Ala Glu Leu Arg 355 360 365 Ala Ser Gln Arg Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Gly Val Leu Pro Gln Val Leu 370 375 380 Ala Glu Thr Pro Ala Arg Lys Arg Gly Pro Lys Pro Gln Asn Gly His 385 390 395 400 Gly His Asp Pro Glu His Val Glu Val Arg Arg Gln Ser Ser Asp Pro 405 410 415 Leu Tyr Gln Leu Pro Pro Pro Gly Ser Gly Glu Arg Pro Pro Gly Ala 420 425 430 Thr Gly Glu Pro Pro Ser Ala Pro Ser Gly Val Lys Thr His Val Arg 435 440 445 Ala Val Ala Pro Ser Leu Thr Ser Gln Ala Ala Ala Gln Ala Ala Asn 450 455 460 Gln Pro Leu Ile Arg Ser Asp Pro Ala Arg Gly Gly Gly Pro Arg Ala 465 470 475 480 Val Gly Ala Arg Arg Val Pro Ser Arg Leu Pro Arg Glu Ala Pro Glu 485 490 495 Pro Arg Pro Gly Arg Arg Met Phe Gly Ile Ser Val Ser Gln Gly Ala 500 505 510 Gln Gly Ala Ala Arg Ala Ala Leu Gly Gly Tyr Ser Gln Ala Tyr Gly 515 520 525 Thr Val Cys Arg Ser Ala Leu Gly Arg Leu Pro Leu Leu Pro Gly 530 535 540 15 347 PRT Caenorhabditis elegans 15 Val Asp Thr His Ile His Glu Lys Phe Asp Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Tyr Asp Lys Arg Ser Arg 20 25 30 Glu Thr Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala Phe Arg Asn Pro Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ser Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Val Met Phe Leu Gln Glu Phe Gly 50 55 60 Lys His Pro Asn Val Ile Lys Leu Tyr Asn Ile Phe Arg Ala Asp Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Arg Val Ile Arg Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ala Phe Glu Phe Met Glu 85 90 95 Ala Asp Leu His Asn Val Ile Lys Lys Gly Ser Ile Leu Lys Asp Val 100 105 110 His Lys Gln Tyr Ile Met Cys Gln Leu Phe Arg Ala Ile Arg Phe Leu 115 120 125 His Ser Gly Asn Val Leu His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Val Leu 130 135 140 Leu Asp Ala Asp Cys Arg Val Lys Leu Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Ser Ser Leu Glu Asp Tyr Pro Glu Gly Gln Lys Met Pro Asp 165 170 175 Leu Thr Glu Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Glu Ile Leu 180 185 190 Leu Ala Ala Lys Arg Tyr Thr Lys Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly 195 200 205 Cys Ile Leu Ala Glu Met Leu Ile Gly Arg Ala Leu Phe Pro Gly Ser 210 215 220 Ser Thr Ile Asn Gln Ile Glu Arg Ile Met Asn Thr Ile Ala Lys Pro 225 230 235 240 Ser Arg Ala Asp Ile Ala Ser Ile Gly Ser His Tyr Ala Ala Ser Val 245 250 255 Leu Glu Lys Met Pro Gln Arg Pro Arg Lys Pro Leu Asp Leu Ile Ile 260 265 270 Thr Gln Ser Gln Thr Ala Ala Ile Asp Met Val Gln Arg Leu Leu Ile 275 280 285 Phe Ala Pro Gln Lys Arg Leu Thr Val Glu Gln Cys Leu Val His Pro 290 295 300 Tyr Val Val Gln Phe His Asn Pro Ser Glu Glu Pro Val Leu Asn Tyr 305 310 315 320 Glu Val Tyr Pro Pro Leu Pro Asp His Ile Gln Leu Ser Ile Asp Asp 325 330 335 Tyr Arg Asp Arg Leu Tyr Glu Met Ile Asp Glu 340 345 16 340 PRT Dictyostelium discoideum 16 Ile Asp Lys His Val Leu Arg Lys Tyr Glu Val Phe His Lys Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Glu Ala Ile Asp Lys Lys Pro His 20 25 30 His Thr Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Ile Phe Asp Ala Phe Gln Asn Ala Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Met Phe Leu Gln Glu Leu His 50 55 60 Gly His Glu Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Leu Asn Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu His Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Ala Val Ile Arg Ala Lys Ile Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Gln Tyr Thr 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Lys Ala Leu Lys Tyr Met His Ser Ala Asn Val 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Leu Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 Leu Val Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Thr Ser Leu 145 150 155 160 Glu Ser Ile Ala Glu Ala Asn Pro Val Leu Thr Glu Tyr Val Ala Thr 165 170 175 Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr Lys Tyr Thr 180 185 190 Lys Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Ile Gly Cys Ile Leu Gly Glu Leu Leu 195 200 205 Gly Glu Lys Ala Met Phe Pro Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Asp 210 215 220 Leu Ile Ile Glu Val Thr Gly Arg Pro Ser Ala Glu Asp Ile Glu Ala 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Thr Met Leu Glu Ser Leu Pro Pro Ser 245 250 255 Asn Pro Arg Ser Leu Ser Asp Met Tyr Pro Ser Ala Ser Val Asp Ala 260 265 270 Leu Asp Leu Leu Lys Lys Leu Ser Gln Phe Asn Pro Asp Lys Arg Ile 275 280 285 Thr Ala Glu Glu Ala Leu Ala His Pro Phe Val Thr Gln Phe His Asn 290 295 300 Pro Ala Glu Glu Pro His Phe Asp Arg Ile Ile Lys Ile Ser Ile Asp 305 310 315 320 Asp Gly Gln Lys Phe Pro Ile Ala Glu Tyr Arg Asn Arg Leu Tyr Asn 325 330 335 Asp Ile Ile Lys 340 17 341 PRT Leishmania mexicana 17 Met Ser Ala Glu Ile Glu Ser His Ile Leu Lys Lys Tyr Glu Ile Gln 1 5 10 15 Thr Gln Leu Gly Gln Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Arg Ala Leu Glu 20 25 30 Arg Lys His Asn Arg Val Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Ile Tyr Asp Ala Phe 35 40 45 Gln Asn Ser Thr Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Met Phe Leu 50 55 60 His Arg Leu His His Pro Asn Ile Ile Arg Leu Leu His Val His Arg 65 70 75 80 Ala Phe Asn Asp Arg Asp Ile Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Tyr Met Glu Thr 85 90 95 Asp Leu His Val Val Ile Arg Ala Asn Ile Leu Glu Gly Ile His Lys 100 105 110 Gln Phe Ile Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Lys Thr Met Lys Phe Leu His Ser 115 120 125 Ala Glu Ile Leu His Arg Asp Met Lys Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Val Asn 130 135 140 Ser Asp Cys Thr Met Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile 145 150 155 160 Leu Ser Leu Glu Gly Glu Gln Ala Ser Arg Pro Val Leu Thr Asp Tyr 165 170 175 Ile Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Pro Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr 180 185 190 Arg Tyr Thr Lys Gly Val Asp Met Trp Ser Val Gly Cys Ile Leu Gly 195 200 205 Glu Leu Met Leu Gly Lys Pro Met Phe Pro Gly Arg Ser Thr Thr Asn 210 215 220 Gln Leu Glu Leu Ile Cys Ser Val Thr Gly Met Pro Ser Ala Ala Asp 225 230 235 240 Val Ala Ala Thr Asn Ser Gln Phe Ala Asn Ala Met Leu Arg Asp Ile 245 250 255 His Cys Ala His Arg Arg Thr Phe Ala Glu Leu Leu Pro Ser Ala Ser 260 265 270 Ala Asp Ala Leu Asn Leu Ile Glu Arg Leu Met Cys Phe Asn Pro Asn 275 280 285 Arg Arg Leu Ser Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Glu His Pro Tyr Val Ala Ala 290 295 300 Phe His Arg Pro Asp Asp Glu Pro Val Ala Pro Glu Pro Ile Thr Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Leu Pro Asp Ser Gln Arg Leu Pro Leu Ala Lys Tyr Arg Asp Ala 325 330 335 Ile Tyr Glu Gln Ile 340 18 342 PRT Drosophila melanogaster 18 Leu Asp Gln Thr Val Glu Ser Ile Phe Asp Val Arg Lys Arg Met Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Ile Val Trp Lys Ala Thr Asp Arg Arg Thr Lys 20 25 30 Asn Thr Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Val Phe Asp Ala Phe Arg Asp Glu Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Tyr Arg Glu Val Ile Phe Leu Arg Ala Phe Arg 50 55 60 Cys His Pro Asn Ile Val Arg Leu Val Asp Ile Phe Lys Ala Ser Asn 65 70 75 80 Asn Leu Asp Phe Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Phe Met Glu Ser Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Asn Val Ile Lys Arg Gly Asn Val Leu Lys Asp Val His Lys Arg Phe 100 105 110 Val Met Tyr Gln Leu Ile Asn Ala Ile Lys Phe Ile His Ser Gly Asn 115 120 125 Val Ile His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Ile Asp Ser Lys 130 135 140 Cys Arg Leu Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Thr Leu Ser Ser 145 150 155 160 Arg Arg Ile Tyr Asp Asp Leu Glu Gln Asp Gly Met Leu Thr Asp Tyr 165 170 175 Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Val Ala Ser Arg 180 185 190 Asn Tyr Thr Lys Gly Ile Asp Met Trp Gly Leu Gly Cys Ile Leu Gly 195 200 205 Glu Met Ile Arg Gln Lys Pro Leu Phe Gln Gly Thr Ser Thr Val Asn 210 215 220 Gln Ile Glu Lys Ile Val Thr Ser Leu Pro Asn Val Thr Lys Leu Asp 225 230 235 240 Ile Ala Ser Ile Gly Pro Ser Phe Gly Ser Val Leu Leu Ser Arg Asn 245 250 255 Ile Gln Arg Asp Arg Arg Tyr Ser Leu Asp Glu Met Met Lys Asn Cys 260 265 270 Cys Asp Asp Gly Ile Ser Leu Val Lys Ala Leu Leu Val Leu Asn Pro 275 280 285 His Asn Arg Leu Thr Ala Lys Glu Ala Ile Arg His Pro Tyr Val Ser 290 295 300 Arg Phe Gln Tyr Ala Ser Ala Glu Met Asp Leu His Met Asp Val Val 305 310 315 320 Pro Pro Leu Lys Asp His Val Arg Tyr Asp Val Asp Gln Tyr Arg Asn 325 330 335 Ser Leu Tyr Glu Leu Ile 340 19 338 PRT Plasmodium falciparum 19 Ile Asp Glu Asn Val Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Leu Lys Lys Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Cys Lys Lys Asn Lys 20 25 30 Asn Ile Val Ala Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Gly Ala Phe Gln Asn Cys Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Ile Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Asn 50 55 60 Gly His Asp Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Met Asp Val Ile Lys Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ile Phe Asp Phe Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Glu Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Lys Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Tyr Ile His Ser Gly Gly Leu 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 His Ile Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Ser Thr His 145 150 155 160 Val Asn Glu Asn Lys Val Pro Ile Leu Thr Asp Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr His Tyr Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asp Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Met Gly Glu Leu Leu Cys 195 200 205 Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Ile Gln Val Ile Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Lys Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Pro Phe Ala Glu Lys Ile Ile Ser Ser Phe Val Asp Leu Lys 245 250 255 Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Cys Tyr Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Ser Leu 260 265 270 Asp Leu Leu Glu Lys Leu Leu Gln Phe Asn Pro Ser Lys Arg Ile Ser 275 280 285 Ala Glu Asn Ala Leu Lys His Lys Tyr Val Glu Glu Phe His Ser Ile 290 295 300 Ile Asp Glu Pro Thr Cys Arg His Ile Ile Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 305 310 315 320 Asn Thr Lys Tyr Arg Val Asn Phe Tyr Arg Asn Val Val Tyr Phe Val 325 330 335 Ile Met 20 338 PRT Plasmodium falciparum 20 Ile Asp Glu Asn Val Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Leu Lys Lys Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Cys Lys Lys Asn Lys 20 25 30 Asn Ile Val Ala Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Gly Ala Phe Gln Asn Cys Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Ile Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Asn 50 55 60 Gly His Asp Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Met Asp Val Ile Lys Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ile Phe Asp Phe Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Glu Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Lys Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Tyr Ile His Ser Gly Gly Leu 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 His Ile Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Ser Thr His 145 150 155 160 Val Asn Glu Asn Lys Val Pro Ile Leu Thr Asp Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr His Tyr Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asp Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Met Gly Glu Leu Leu Cys 195 200 205 Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Ile Gln Val Ile Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Lys Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Pro Phe Ala Glu Lys Ile Ile Ser Ser Phe Val Asp Leu Lys 245 250 255 Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Cys Tyr Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Ser Leu 260 265 270 Asp Leu Leu Glu Lys Leu Leu Gln Phe Asn Pro Ser Lys Arg Ile Ser 275 280 285 Ala Glu Asn Ala Leu Lys His Lys Tyr Val Glu Glu Phe His Ser Ile 290 295 300 Ile Asp Glu Pro Thr Cys Arg His Ile Ile Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 305 310 315 320 Asn Thr Lys Tyr Arg Val Asn Phe Tyr Arg Asn Val Val Tyr Phe Val 325 330 335 Ile Met 21 338 PRT Plasmodium falciparum 21 Ile Asp Glu Asn Val Leu Lys Lys Tyr Asp Ile Leu Lys Lys Val Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Phe Lys Gly Arg Cys Lys Lys Asn Lys 20 25 30 Asn Ile Val Ala Val Lys Lys Ile Phe Gly Ala Phe Gln Asn Cys Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Phe Arg Glu Ile Ile Phe Leu Tyr Glu Leu Asn 50 55 60 Gly His Asp Asn Ile Ile Lys Leu Met Asp Val Ile Lys Ala Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Asn Asp Ile Tyr Leu Ile Phe Asp Phe Met Glu Thr Asp Leu His 85 90 95 Glu Val Ile Lys Ala Asp Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile His Lys Lys Tyr Ile 100 105 110 Ile Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Tyr Ile His Ser Gly Gly Leu 115 120 125 Leu His Arg Asp Ile Lys Pro Ser Asn Ile Leu Val Asn Ser Glu Cys 130 135 140 His Ile Lys Val Ala Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Ser Ile Ser Thr His 145 150 155 160 Val Asn Glu Asn Lys Val Pro Ile Leu Thr Asp Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro Glu Ile Leu Leu Gly Ser Thr His Tyr Thr Glu 180 185 190 Asp Val Asp Met Trp Ser Leu Gly Cys Ile Met Gly Glu Leu Leu Cys 195 200 205 Gly Lys Pro Leu Phe Thr Gly Asn Ser Thr Met Asn Gln Leu Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Ile Gln Val Ile Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Lys Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Pro Phe Ala Glu Lys Ile Ile Ser Ser Phe Val Asp Leu Lys 245 250 255 Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ile Cys Tyr Lys Ala Ser Asn Glu Ser Leu 260 265 270 Asp Leu Leu Glu Lys Leu Leu Gln Phe Asn Pro Ser Lys Arg Ile Ser 275 280 285 Ala Glu Asn Ala Leu Lys His Lys Tyr Val Glu Glu Phe His Ser Ile 290 295 300 Ile Asp Glu Pro Thr Cys Arg His Ile Ile Thr Ile Pro Ile Asn Asp 305 310 315 320 Asn Thr Lys Tyr Arg Val Asn Phe Tyr Arg Asn Val Val Tyr Phe Val 325 330 335 Ile Met 22 303 PRT Leishmania mexicana 22 Ile Asp Gly Glu Val Glu Gln Arg Tyr Arg Ile Leu Arg His Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Ala Tyr Gly Val Val Trp Cys Ala Leu Asp Arg Arg Thr Gly 20 25 30 Lys Cys Val Ala Leu Lys Lys Val Tyr Asp Ala Phe Gly Asn Val Gln 35 40 45 Asp Ala Gln Arg Thr Tyr Arg Glu Val Met Leu Leu Gln Arg Leu Arg 50 55 60 His Asn Pro Phe Ile Val Gly Ile Leu Asp Val Ile Arg Ala Ala Asn 65 70 75 80 Asp Ile Asp Leu Tyr Leu Val Phe Glu Leu Ile Glu Thr Asp Leu Thr 85 90 95 Ala Ile Ile Arg Lys Asn Leu Leu Gln Arg Asp His Lys Arg Phe Leu 100 105 110 Thr Tyr Gln Leu Leu Arg Thr Val Ala Gln Leu His Ala Gln Asn Ile 115 120 125 Ile His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ala Asn Val Phe Val Ser Ser Asp Cys 130 135 140 Ser Ile Lys Leu Gly Asp Phe Gly Leu Ala Arg Thr Phe Arg Ser Gly 145 150 155 160 Tyr Asp Asn Glu Gln Glu Phe Leu Asp Leu Thr Asp Tyr Ile Ala Thr 165 170 175 Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ser Pro Glu Ile Leu Val Lys Ser Arg Ala Tyr Ser 180 185 190 Thr Ala Met Asp Met Trp Ala Ile Gly Cys Val Ile Gly Glu Met Leu 195 200 205 Leu Gly Arg Pro Leu Phe Glu Gly Arg Asn Thr Leu Asp Gln Leu Arg 210 215 220 Leu Ile Ile Glu Ala Ile Gly Val Pro Ser Asp Ala Asp Val Arg Ser 225 230 235 240 Leu His Ser Pro Glu Leu Glu Lys Leu Ile Asn Ser Leu Pro Thr Pro 245 250 255 Leu Ile Phe Ser Pro Leu Val Gly Asn Lys Asn Leu Lys Asp Ser Glu 260 265 270 Ala Thr Asp Leu Met Met Lys Leu Ile Val Phe Asn Pro Lys Arg Arg 275 280 285 Leu Ser Ala Val Glu Ala Leu Gln His Pro Tyr Val Ala Pro Phe 290 295 300 23 304 PRT Dictyostelium discoideum 23 Val Pro Arg Arg Tyr Ser Ile Val Lys Cys Ile Gly His Gly Ala Tyr 1 5 10 15 Gly Val Val Cys Ser Ala Lys Asp Asn Leu Thr Gly Glu Lys Val Ala 20 25 30 Ile Lys Lys Ile Ser Lys Ala Phe Asp Asn Leu Lys Asp Thr Lys Arg 35 40 45 Thr Leu Arg Glu Ile His Leu Leu Arg His Phe Lys His Glu Asn Leu 50 55 60 Ile Ser Ile Lys Asp Ile Leu Lys Pro Asn Ser Lys Glu Gln Phe Glu 65 70 75 80 Asp Val Tyr Ile Val Ser Glu Leu Met Asp Thr Asp Leu His Gln Ile 85 90 95 Ile Thr Ser Pro Gln Pro Leu Ser Asp Asp His Cys Gln Tyr Phe Val 100 105 110 Tyr Gln Met Leu Arg Gly Leu Lys His Ile His Ser Ala Asn Val Leu 115 120 125 His Arg Asp Leu Lys Pro Ser Asn Leu Leu Ile Asn Glu Asp Cys Leu 130 135 140 Leu Lys Ile Cys Asp Leu Gly Leu Ala Arg Val Glu Asp Ala Thr His 145 150 155 160 Gln Gly Phe Met Thr Glu Tyr Val Ala Thr Arg Trp Tyr Arg Ala Pro 165 170 175 Glu Val Ile Leu Ser Trp Asn Lys Tyr Thr Lys Ala Ile Asp Ile Trp 180 185 190 Ser Val Gly Cys Ile Phe Ala Glu Leu Leu Gly Arg Lys Pro Leu Phe 195 200 205 Gln Gly Lys Asp Tyr Ile His Gln Ile Thr Leu Ile Ile Glu Thr Ile 210 215 220 Gly Ser Pro Ser Glu Glu Asp Ile Cys Asn Ile Ala Asn Glu Gln Ala 225 230 235 240 Arg Gln Phe Ile Arg Ser Leu Asn Met Gly Asn Gln Pro Lys Val Asn 245 250 255 Phe Ala Asn Met Phe Pro Lys Ala Asn Pro Asp Ala Ile Asp Leu Leu 260 265 270 Glu Arg Met Leu Tyr Phe Asp Pro Ser Lys Arg Leu Thr Val Glu Glu 275 280 285 Ala Leu Ala His Pro Tyr Phe Gln Ser Leu His Asp Pro Ser Asp Glu 290 295 300 

That which is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a MAP kinase, wherein the nucleic acid molecule consists of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; (b) a nucleotide sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:1; and (c) a nucleotide sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:3.
 2. A nucleic acid vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 3. A host cell containing the vector of claim
 2. 4. A process for producing a polypeptide comprising culturing the host cell of claim 3, under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide, and recovering said polypeptide from the host cell culture.
 5. An isolated polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 6. An isolated polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:3.
 7. A vector according to claim 2, wherein said vector is selected from the group consisting of a plasmid, virus, and bacteriophage.
 8. A vector according to claim 2, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule is inserted into said vector in proper orientation and correct reading frame such that the protein of SEQ ID NO:2 may be expressed by a cell transformed with said vector.
 9. A vector according to claim 8, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule is operatively linked to a promoter sequence.
 10. An isolated nucleic acid molecule consisting of a nucleotide sequence that is completely complementary to a nucleotide sequence of claim
 1. 11. A nucleic acid vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule of claim
 10. 12. A host cell containing the vector of claim
 11. 13. A process for producing a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO:2, the process comprising culturing the host cell of claim 12, under conditions sufficient for the production of said polypeptide, and recovering said polypeptide from the host cell culture.
 14. A vector according to claim 11, wherein said vector is selected from the group consisting of a plasmid, virus, and bacteriophage.
 15. A vector according to claim 11, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule is inserted into said vector in proper orientation and correct reading frame such that the protein of SEQ ID NO:2 may be expressed by a cell transformed with said vector.
 16. A vector according to claim 15, wherein said isolated nucleic acid molecule is operatively linked to a promoter sequence.
 17. A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 in a sample, said method comprising contacting the sample with an oligonucleotide comprising at least 20 contiguous nucleotides that hybridizes to said nucleic acid molecule under stringent conditions, wherein the stringent condition is hybridization in 6X sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45 °C , followed by one or more washes in 0.2 X SSC, 0.1 % SDS at 50-65 °C, and determining whether the oligonucletide binds to said nucleic acid molecule in the sample. 